Abu Dhabi (Al Ittihad)
The UAE Parliament for the Child held its third session of the first session of the second legislative term in Zayed Hall at the headquarters of the Federal National Council in the capital, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Protection, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, and Reem bint Abdullah Al Falasi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Motherhood. and childhood.
The session was also attended by Dr. Omar Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Federal National Council, Tariq Hilal Lootah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs, Afra Al Basti, Assistant Secretary General for Parliamentary Communication at the Federal National Council, and a number of officials.
Mthayel bint Muhammad Al-Suraidi, Speaker of the UAE Parliament for the Child, presented her inaugural speech with thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Muhammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Protection for his generous efforts and tireless work in supporting the rights of the Emirati child, stressing that the most important child’s right is the right to health so that the child can enjoy the exercise of his daily duties with all Ease, and to consolidate this right, the slogan of Emirati Children’s Day for this year bears the “Right to Health”.
She added, “The Emirati Parliament for the Child seeks, with this extraordinary session, to complete the action plan put forward by the Parliament’s committees, and to make maximum efforts to solve the challenges that hinder the march and successes of the Emirati child.”
Al-Suraidi affirmed that Parliament is moving forward on the approach of protecting the rights of the child and the march of his scientific and cultural empowerment in the outside world, especially the consolidation of the right to participate in decision-making, which is the first step in achieving our goals and plans, wishing success and reimbursement to all members in carrying the banner of the auspicious message, and that we remain at Your good faith is exerting all our energies and capabilities to achieve the hopes of the Emirati child and empower him, and to make the Emirati children a stronghold for the success and completion of the development process in our homeland.
Khalid bin Ahmed Al Otaiba discussed agenda items, such as the apology of some members for not attending, ratification of the minutes of the previous session, discussion of a topic related to children’s mental health submitted by the Health and Social Affairs Committee, in addition to announcing the formation of the Environment and Sustainability Committee in the second session of the UAE Parliament for the Child.
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, a member of the Health and Social Committee, said during his intervention, during which he reviewed a summary of the committee’s report: Several proposals have been made to serve children in our beloved country, the most important of which is the issue of children’s mental health, and the committee discussed the importance of the topic, and how to apply it on the ground. As the directions reached by the committee are to provide health insurance that includes all costs of psychological treatment for children in all emirates of the country, in addition to the existence of an effective hotline for children’s mental health. He added, “These discussions are in the service of all UAE children, and in implementation of what was stated in Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 of the Child Protection Law “Wadimah Law” concerned with preserving the rights and status of children, and highlighting the importance of their security in their environment and society.
Al-Nuaimi stated that the recommendation came to embody the vision of the wise leadership, its efforts to provide comprehensive and adequate health care for Emirati children, and its initiatives that it launched over many years targeting this group.
Al-Nuaimi stressed the need to provide a suitable environment for children, including those who suffer from mental disorders, through a guide for everyone on how to communicate, and to provide a comfortable environment for children with mental disorders, in order to obtain a psychologically safe environment.
Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mazrouei, a member of the UAE Parliament for the Child, affirmed that the child’s mental health is considered a basic and legitimate right, and is in line with the program launched by the Ministry of Health and Community Protection to develop mental health services for children. Therefore, we aspire that all means will be available, and that the Emirati child will be able to access appropriate and complete support to treat himself from psychological disorders that may cause serious and inevitable damage that determines the fate of the child, his behavior and his societal role, pointing out that Article “24” of Federal Law No. “3” of 2016 AD Concerning the Children’s Rights Law “Wademah” stipulates the right of the child to enjoy the highest achievable standard of health and his right to facilities for the treatment of diseases, health rehabilitation, and access to the best and highest quality health services.
Rawda bint Abdullah Al Ali, a member of the UAE Parliament for the Child, recommended, in her intervention as a member of the Health and Social Committee, that comprehensive and unified health insurance be introduced for all costs of psychological treatment in all emirates of the country for all ages, and this recommendation comes to simulate the initiatives and vision of the wise leadership in providing health care. Achieving the mental health of the Emirati child without societal restrictions.
Saud bin Salem Al-Qaidi, a member of the UAE Parliament for the Child, announced the formation of a committee concerned with the environment and sustainability in the second session of the UAE Parliament for the Child to provide an opportunity for children and adolescents to share their views and the challenges they may face to discuss them with state officials and decision-makers to preserve future generations and live in a safe and sustainable environment.
At the end of the session, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi recited the recommendations of the Health and Social Committee, which are: unifying health insurance for all children in the country, including the costs of psychological treatment, providing a non-seasonal hotline to serve children’s mental health, and the need for appropriate competencies to receive calls from children who They suffer from disorders, as well as children of determination, establishing mental health centers for children in all emirates of the country, and finally providing a guide for everyone, such as parents, teachers, and those around children with mental disorders, and providing a comfortable environment for them.
