Dr Sheikh Sultan interacts with children in Sharjah. File

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued Law No. 6 of 2020, regarding social care in the emirate of Sharjah.

The law aims to provide protection to those deprived of social care and encourage families to support them, to ensure their natural integration in the community.

The law stipulates establishing the “Permanent Committee of Individuals Deprived of Social Care,” where the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) is to establish the committee and name its chair and members, and assign the duties and compensations of the committee members.

As per the new law, the committee specialisations are to include setting the general policies of social care in the emirate, classifications of individuals deprived of social care, defining the procedures dealing with these individuals, ensuring the rights of these individuals, and assigning foster families or entities that would take care of these individuals.

As per the new law, the categories of the individuals deprived of social care are children with unknown parents, children of a known mother but unproven father, children with no guardian or caretaker, children deprived of the care of their guardian or caretaker due to having one of the following reasons:

a - Mental, physical, psychological, terminal, or contagious illnesses; b - Lack or loss of capacity; c - Addiction to drugs and narcotic; d - Abandonment; e - Imprisonment; f - Domestic disputes

In addition to children who receive any kind of abuse and any other categories that the committee chooses to include.

As per the law, the abuse includes physical, sexual, psychological, and commercial abuse, in addition to neglect, electronic extortion, and bullying.

The law stipulates that those who find, or have led to, any individual deprived of social care, they are to report them to the police or social services immediately to take the required legal procedures.

Meanwhile, in a separate development the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood has published an electronic story on its social media platforms to educate children about the new coronavirus (COVID-19).

The story titled “Makronia,” addresses the questions that children may have about this pandemic and answer them in a simple and interesting way that suits the thinking of the age group.

The events of the story revolve around the reality and nature of the virus, the importance of adhering to the preventive guidelines that protect society from the pandemic, the need to staying at home and maintaining personal hygiene and the way to wash hands.

WAM