Children’s Rights In The UAE

Overview

The UAE recognises family as the very foundation of society, and heavily invests in the next generation. Since ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1997, the UAE has reinforced its commitment to upholding and protecting children’s rights with legislation that empowers children to grow and develop their full capabilities.

The UAE system of child protection spans healthcare, education, and family support, ensuring that every child benefits from a stable and nurturing environment.

The 2018 National Family Policy is a shining example of the UAE’s dedication to fostering happiness and cohesion within families.

Multiple authorities across the UAE work tirelessly to support these goals, aiming to build a society where children's rights are a top priority. As a result of these efforts, the UAE has ranked highly on international indices related to children’s rights, including excelling in the implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across areas such as child vaccination programmes and antenatal care.

National Legislation

The UAE’s Constitution underscores the importance of family as the cornerstone of society, and includes a number of protections to safeguard the rights of children.

Article 15 asserts that the preservation and safety of the family is guaranteed by law.

Article 16 stresses the importance of social responsibility and cohesion by stating that society “shall be responsible for protecting childhood and motherhood and shall protect minors and others unable to look after themselves”.

Article 17 codifies the right to education as a primary means of social development.

The UAE is also proud to have introduced a wider national legislative framework to protect children’s rights.

Federal Law No. (9) of 1976 on Delinquent and Vagrant Juveniles.

Federal Law No. (1) of 2012 on the Custody of Children of Unknown Parentage.

Federal Law No. (51) of 2006 as amended by Federal law No.1 of 2015 on Combatting Human Trafficking Crime.

Federal Law No. (3) of 2016 on Child Rights (Wadeema's Law).

Cabinet Resolution No. (52) of 2018 Governing the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. (3) of 2016 on Child Rights Law.

Federal Law No. (10) of (2019) on Protection Against Family Violence.

Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 on Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law.

Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes.

Federal Law No. (6) of 2022 concerning Juvenile Delinquent and Juvenile at Risk of Delinquency.

Wadeema’s Law

In 2012, a significant event marked a turning point in the UAE's approach to child protection legislation. This was the year when a tragic incident occurred involving a girl named Wadeema, who was abused and killed by her father. This incident prompted the UAE’s leadership to initiate a legal workshop which culminated in the introduction of Wadeema's Law in 2016, a comprehensive child protection law that marked a milestone in the UAE's legislative history.

Wadeema’s law, in line with the Convention of the Rights of the Child stresses that all children must be provided with stable living conditions, access to health services, education, equal opportunities and essential services and facilities, without any kind of discrimination. The law advocates for the establishment of clear child protection mechanisms, which includes the creation of child protection units staffed with specialists who have the capacity of a judicial officer and can intervene as per regulations and laws in situations threatening a child's health or safety. Emirati Children’s Day marks the establishment of Wadeema’s law and is celebrated annually on 15 March. It provides the nation with an opportunity to celebrate the crucial role children play in the UAE’s vision for the future.

International Legislation

Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), ratified in 1997.

ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), ratified in 2001.

Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol 2000 , ratified in 2009).

Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, ratified in 2016. 

Key National Authorities

In recent years, the UAE government has established a number of national bodies aimed at supporting the rights of children in various sectors.

The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood was established in 2003 by HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. The Council has been instrumental in establishing and implementing policies, strategies and standards related to the protection and development of children in the UAE. Emirati Children’s Parliament was founded in February 2020 to ensure children’s voices are heard and young people can actively participate in decision-making. The Parliament is based on the guiding principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which outlines “the right of the child to express themselves and their views”. Children’s Advisory Council was established in 2018 as a platform for children to voice their needs, challenges and visions for the future. The Sharjah Children Shura Council seeks to enable children to express their views on issues that concern them, and to engage in discussions with concerned officials on areas spanning education, health, well-being and more. The Ministry of Interior is a global leader in the field of child protection, having established a Child Protection Centre, and excelled in advocacy, capacity-building, operations and policymaking to improve child safety worldwide. Upon recognition of its leadership in child protection, the Ministry has been invited to join the WePROTECT Global Alliance as a permanent Board Member, alongside the UK, EU, U.S. and the WPGA Founder. In 2020, the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the UNICRI Centre for AI and Robotics, launched the AI for Safer Children initiative. This initiative seeks to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse online by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. The AI4SC Global Hub, established as part of this initiative, has since welcomed law enforcement officers from 75 countries. In 2019, the Ministry of Community Development launched its Child’s Digital Government platform – an interactive tool to help young people learn about governmental agencies in the UAE. The Ministry has also launched its ‘No Accept’ programme, which teaches children aged 3-10 how to protect themselves against and report abuse.

Global Efforts

The UAE is committed to supporting the rights of children worldwide through a comprehensive humanitarian aid programme – which has included investing in overseas hospitals, distributing medicines and widening educational opportunities across borders.

The UAE is one of the main contributors to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s programme, which provides polio vaccines in Pakistan. Indeed, over eight years, the UAE provided more than 583 million vaccines to Pakistan, which benefited more than 102 million children. The UAE is also proud to have played a significant role in widening children’s access to essential vaccines in Afghanistan and Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. In 2017, the UAE collaborated with UNICEF and other partners to support the education of 20 million children in 59 countries. In 2020, the UAE reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of children globally before the UN Security Council, and emphasised the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children living in conflict zones. The UAE pledged $100 million to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to support the development of educational programs in developing countries over a five-year period from 2021. In 2021, Dubai Cares provided financial support to projects in 26 African countries to ensure students can remain in school and complete their education. In 2023, the UAE pledged $10.5 million to the Early Childhood Development Centres project in Columbia leading to remarkable advancements in primary education and health infrastructure. Also in 2023, the UAE issued an initiative to host children from the Gaza Strip and provide them with medical treatment as part of the UAE’s continued efforts to offer relief to the Palestinian people during the ongoing conflict, as well as its wider initiative to offer relief to vulnerable citizens in various countries and conflict zones.