Debut Edition of Child Safety Forum Unveils Tomorrow (Tuesday) in Sharjah

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), the debut edition of Child Safety Forum will be inaugurated on Tuesday (Tomorrow) in Sharjah.

Held at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre, the forum will shine light on the reality of UAE media when reporting on children’s welfare and safety issues under the theme ‘Responsible Media... Safe Child’.

Organised in partnership with the National Media Council (NMC), the Ministry of Community Development (MoCD), and the Federal Public Prosecution, the forum’s sessions will focus on the social and psychological impact on children resulting from media violations; the advancement of media legislation, policies and standards to become more child-friendly; and promoting Emirati leadership in protecting children and safeguarding their rights in UAE media.

The Child Safety Forum will also feature a closed session attended by editors-in-chief, heads of departments and programme directors representing local media entities, who will discuss the challenges faced when reporting on children’s issues on their platforms, and best child-friendly media practises and recommendations.

Session 1 – The media’s role in addressing children’s issues: Legislation and professional guidelines

The first session will shed light on the reality of the UAE’s media landscape, discussing media ethics and professionalism, where speakers will try to gauge awareness levels of media personnel when handling child-related issues, also discussing current penalties stipulated by the nation’s laws surrounding media violations. Finally, the session will discuss how violations can be tackled through standard professional guidelines and how to maintain children’s rights while balancing freedom of press. 

Moderated by journalist and social media figure Munther Al Muzaki, the session will host Ibrahim Khadim, Media Content Director, National Media Council; Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police; Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General, Sharjah Media Council; and Dr. Waleed Khaled Al Hammadi, Senior Deputy Prosecutor, Director of Juvenile Prosecution at Sharjah Public Prosecution.

Session 2: Developing child-friendly media policies

Social and psychological repercussions on child victims, aggressors, parents and society will be the focus of the second session. Panellists will discuss parents’ pivotal roles in protecting their children and their rights, and how developing national legislation can help support this goal. The session’s agenda includes a segment on the importance of raising children’s awareness about their rights through interactive games and hotline awareness.

Moderated by author Najeeba Al Rifai, the session will feature the following speakers: Eman Hareb, Director of Community Protection Department, Ministry of Community Development; Omar Salem Al Ameri, Consultant, Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood; Faisal Al Shimmari, Founder and Chairman, Emirates Child Protection Association; and Hend Al Badwawi, Psychological Counselor, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. 

First Child Safety Forum

Building on its key message that child safety is shared responsibility, especially when it comes to their media and online safety, the forum will offer a one-of-a-kind platform to decision-makers, institutions of child safety and welfare, child protection practitioners in the UAE and the region, to partake in robust conversations and share their expertise on child safety and protection practices they have successfully applied and seek to apply in future. 

Discussions will also shed light on latest local and international studies on children protection and welfare, highlight successful initiatives and projects launched by Sharjah and the UAE, and enable them to explore collaboration opportunities at the local and global level. 

The inaugural edition is held in cooperation with several federal and local authorities, most notably: Federal Public Prosecution, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Emirates Society for the Protection of Children and Sharjah Police.