Dubai approves centre for juvenile delinquents
The centre will also work to enable schools and neighbourhood communities to play a bigger role in addressing the needs of teenagers
In a meeting chaired by Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and attended by Deputy Ruler of Dubai and First Deputy Chairman of The Executive Council Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Council approved the establishment of a specialised centre for juvenile delinquents in Dubai.
The decision to establish the centre was made based on a study conducted by Dubai’s Community Development Authority in collaboration with Dubai Police, Dubai Public Prosecution and other concerned entities.
The centre will provide rehabilitation and intervention programmes to reintegrate juvenile delinquents into the community and educate them about their rights and obligations as members of society. Furthermore, the centre will develop proactive solutions to tackle the root causes of juvenile delinquency and boost cooperation between concerned authorities to reduce repeat offences.
The centre will also work to enable schools and neighbourhood communities to play a bigger role in addressing the needs of teenagers and educating families about the support and guidance they need to provide to protect their children.
It will operate a child protection hotline, offer specialised intervention programmes, manage volunteering and community service activities and reintroduce judicial probation and training for juvenile delinquents according to the nature of their offences.
It will also complement the efforts of the teams and authorities responsible for the rehabilitation and wellbeing of juvenile delinquents by recommending new legislative, HR and technical measures and initiatives. The centre will establish an umbrella entity to manage all aspects related to juvenile delinquents, including case follow-up and training for people working with juveniles.
The centre will manage a unified database for juvenile delinquents in Dubai, conduct virtual investigations and hearings and establish an electronic file for every case.
In a recent development, the Abu Dhabi Police, ADP, launched the virtual initiative, entitled, “Safe Child City,” for the second year in a row, coinciding with World Children’s Day on 20th November and National Bullying Prevention Week.
Brigadier Saeed Hamad Al Kaabi, Director of the Social Support Centres Department of the ADP, stated that the initiative is part of the department’s ongoing awareness activities and will continue until 29th November, targeting the largest possible number of community members. He also noted that the initiative is virtual to protect everyone’s safety, in line with the precautionary measures aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
He then highlighted the ADP’S keenness to protect and educate children, by implementing programmes aimed at reducing negative behaviour and raising their awareness, and drafting laws to train human resources to handle and limit these kinds of behaviour.
He also noted that the initiative is an annual celebration for children on their international day, and supports the country’s efforts to drat laws aimed at guaranteeing children’s rights and raising their awareness.
The “Safe Child City” is one of the ADP’S initiatives that is part of its strategic plan to protect children, under the framework of an appropriate legal system, he added.
The ADP’S Social Support Centres Department and Juvenile Care Centre, along with its security media and sports education departments and the Emirates Electronic Evidence Centre, are participating in the initiative.
The initiative involves cultural workshops, lectures and preventive sessions aimed at supporting children psychologically and socially, to highlight anti-bullying efforts in schools and raise students’ awareness about bullying, its effect on the community and individuals and how to combat it, as well as to raise community awareness via the media and the ADP’S social media outlets, and distribute awareness publications virtually in several languages.
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.