WAM Abu Dhabi, 24th June 2012 (WAM) -- The Ministry of Social Affairs announced today that it had completed the final review of the federal draft law on rights of the Child which is basically drawn from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children, which the UAE ratified in 1995.

The Ministry said it had enacted the bill after it had held expanded meetings with all agencies specialised on child welbeing.

The draft law was debated by the Technical Committee for Legislations and presented to the Ministerial Committee for Legislations which, in turn, submitted it to the Federal Cabinet after implementing instructions of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to introduce strict penalties to prevent negligence or injury to children in light of the case of physically abused girl, Wadeema.

Addition of tougher penalties and other proposed amendments will come under discussion by the Ministry of Interior during the current Week before the draft law is final sent to the Cabinet.

WAM/TF