His Excellency Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of DCD, expressed his utmost pleasure with the establishment of the Children's Parliament, which coincides with the Emirati Children's Day. This opportunity will promote children's "right to participate" and helps them express their views on the issues that concern them in society.
His Excellency noted that the Emirati children receives great attention, thanks to the kind care of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, as well as to the successes we have achieved in child development in terms of education and development using the latest skills and hosting key global conferences to exchange knowledge and experiences among creative children.
The Chairman of DCD stressed that the continuous efforts and constant interest in developing children and enabling them to participate in society is an important step in generating innovative ideas from the Emirati children who will be responsible to continue the march forward and preserve the gains and achievements made by the UAE.
Al Khaili added that the formation of the Emirati Children's Parliament triggers an intensive dialogue between children and adults to set policies, programs and measures in all contexts related to children's lives. It is also a positive step towards overcoming the social, political, economic and cultural obstacles and all issues that affect them in order to show the whole world that we live in a society that accepts all opinions, both young and old.
The formation of the Emirati Children's Parliament reflects the role of the state and its commitment to activate the Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 concerning child rights, of which Article 12 states that the child shall have the right to express his/her opinion freely, according to his/her age and maturity in line with the public order and morals, and that the child shall have the opportunity to express his/her opinion concerning the measures taken in his/her regard within the limits of the laws in force in the country.
This also emphasizes the participation-related provisions and articles within the International Convention on the Rights of the Child that the UAE ratified in 1997. The conventions states that it is the right of every child to be listened to and taken seriously, which constitutes one of four core principles, along with non-discrimination, the right to life and development, and devotion to the best interests of the child.