National Child Protection Policy in Educational Institutions in the UAE
Ministry of Education emphasizes its complete commitment to ensuring the welfare, safety and respect of all children, and that a positive, enjoyable and safe educational environment is created for every child without discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, gender, origin, religious doctrine, social standing or disability.
Objectives of the policy
The National Child Protection Policy in Educational Institutions in the UAE (Arabic, PDF, 227 KB) was launched as per the UAE Cabinet Decree No. 3/3 of 2022. It seeks to achieve the following objectives:
- Ensure implementation of mechanisms and measures of child protection in educational institutions as per the applicable legislations in the UAE and the international conventions in effect
- Determine the roles and responsibilities of all personnel working for the educational institutions and of all the stakeholders
- Create a safe and supportive school environment to protect the child against occurrences that can threaten the child’s survival and wellbeing in terms of physical, mental, intellectual, educational and/or moral health
- Enable the child to exercise his/her rights, particularly educational rights and the right for protection pursuant to the provisions set out in the applicable legislation
- Create a safe and confidential ‘information-reporting and complaints’ system for cases of potential or suspected child abuse
- Provide the child with social and psychological protection, and support and care after cases of child abuse
- Enhance child welfare in all aspects
- Promote positive behaviour and build positive social school relationships
- Promote the principle of tolerance among all members of the school community
- Improve the competency of education professionals working in the field of child protection and bullying prevention
- Foster child protection partnerships
- Coordinate with the relevant entities to safeguard the rights of all children in educational institutions.
Principles of the policy
The policy is based on the following four principles:
- the child’s best interest
- moral, behavioural and professional values
- child protection
- protecting the child’s privacy and confidentiality of information.
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Updated on 22 Nov 2023