UAE encourages 'Right to Play' on Emirati Children's Day

The UAE is marking national Emirati Children's Day, with the "Right to Play" as its key theme.

The Arab League has congratulated the government and people of the United Arab Emirates, as well as Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) on the occasion.

In a statement, the League said the national day highlights the achievements made by the Supreme Council which have contributed to strengthening the protection and rights of children at all levels.

This year's theme aims to educate members of the community about the importance of playtime, as dictated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in alignment with the country’s Child Rights Law (Wadeema).

To raise awareness, the Sharjah Child Friendly Office (SCFO), an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) has launched the ‘Children’s Right to Play’ campaign on social media.

The competition is designed to encourage children to share their understanding and experience of playing through posting original creative videos on social media.

SCFO will accept submissions until the end of March, and winners will receive valuable prizes.

Eligible participants must provide parental consent, record a 30-second video and share it on TikTok, using the official hashtags for the Emirati Children’s Day, and follow @sharjahchildfriendly on social media platforms.

Dr Hessa Khalfan Al Ghazal, Executive Director of SCFO, said: "Children’s rights are indivisible; children cannot be given some of their rights and be deprived of others. Play is a fundamental right that every child should enjoy, as it is vital to both psychological and physical development. It is also key to discovering and unleashing talents and capabilities and gaining essential life skills."

Highlighting Sharjah’s achievements, Dr Al Ghazal added, "In 2018, the emirate received the prestigious Child Friendly City title by UNICEF, after meeting all the requirements of its global Child Friendly Cities Initiative. These achievements drive us to continue to develop children’s rights practices and ensure their sustainability. On Emirati Children’s Day, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing the standard of children’s rights across Sharjah and the UAE."

SCFO launched their awareness campaign through a promotional video.

The film highlights the importance of play and the participation of parents and family members to safeguard children’s rights to do so.