16 social workers given judicial powers
sharjah — A total of 16 social workers at the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD) were granted judicial powers by the Ministry of Justice for quick intervention in cases of maltreatment, abuse and negligence of children.
Mohammed Ahmed Al Hammadi, advisor to the Ministry of Justice and a member of the Supreme Committee for the Protection of Children, said the SSSD prepared the list of qualified social workers specialised in child protection in cooperation with the ministry. The ministry has granted them the status of judicial control officers. “The decision is a practical step in putting the Wadima Law into effect in order to protect children and their rights,” he said.
He pointed out that Wadima Law obligates the authorities concerned, whether local or federal, to appoint specialised child protection social workers and grant them judicial powers after they take an oath to exercise their duties. A set of articles in the law authorises such social workers to intervene and take necessary measures to protect a child who is vulnerable to abuse.
Al Hammadi said: “I would like to see all the departments concerned appoint social workers specialised in child protection and provide them training before granting them the status of judicial control officers to quickly intervene to protect a child.”
Afaf Al Marri, chairperson of the SSSD, pointed out that the decision of granting social workers more power to protect the child is an inevitable and vital act. “It obliges the social workers to exercise judicial control and enables him or her to control all actions that violate the rights of the child. They will have the power to issue a warrant for the arrest of the perpetrators of crimes against children,” she said.
Al Marri said that the 16 specialised social workers have received training on how to handle their new role and their limits. They are also trained on how to act professionally during the intervention in child abuse cases. “One-week training was provided to the social workers by the Sharjah Judiciary Institute at its premises,” she said.
Al Marri explained that the training was led by Omar Al Ghoul, judge at the Ministry of Justice, and focused on the legal aspects of child protection.
“The status and the power give them the ability to quickly intervene to protect a child, especially in the event of exposure of the child to risk. They can enter the place of occurrence and rescue the child,” she added.
Ahmed Ibrahim Al Tartour, director of protection of children’s rights department at the SSSD, said that the training provided to the social workers aimed at qualifying them to ensure the child’s legal protection properly.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com