My Rights:
Child Rights Law:
The Federal Law No. 3 of 2016, known as the Child Rights Law or Wadeema’s Law, emphasizes the rights of children.
The Law aims to protect a child’s right to life, survival and development. It also seeks to offer all necessary opportunities to facilitate the achievement of these objectives. In addition, the Law is designed to protect children against all forms of neglect, exploitation and physical or psychological violence.
What are your rights under Wadeema’s Law?
The Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood has placed children’s awareness of their rights at the top of its priorities. Therefore, we have featured a simplified and summarized explanation of the Child Rights Law (Wadeema’s Law) to introduce children to the content of the Law and the rights stipulated under it.
The Child Rights Law No. (3) of 2016 (Wadeema’s Law) has set forth 75 articles stipulating the basic, familial, health, social, cultural, educational and protective rights for children.
Who is this law for?
This Law covers all children in the UAE, from birth until the age of 18.
You have the right…
- To live, grow and prosper in a country that will provide you with a free, safe, peaceful and advanced life
- To live in safety in a country that will protect you against neglect, exploitation and mistreatment
- To hold onto your Islamic beliefs, take pride in your national identity and respect the culture of others
- To know your rights and duties in the UAE society governed by justice, tolerance and moderation
- To engage in community participation according to your age and level of maturity
- Your parents are responsible for caring for you in a country that will also care for your parents to ensure they are able to assume their role. If you have no family, efforts will be made to grant you your right to have one.
You have the right to consider your interests when making decisions that concern you, such as:
- The right to meet your physical, mental and psychological health-related needs
- The right to prioritize protection, care, relief and guidance in emergency situations
- The right to protect your mental health during investigations or trials
- The right to privacy and the protection of your rights ensured, and having the responsibilities of those caring for you taken into consideration
- The right to live in a country that has implemented policies and programs to ensure that all your rights are granted.
What are your basic rights?
- The right to have a name and be registered from the day of your birth
- The right to live in safety and peace
- The right to live in a country that will care for your growth, development, and well-being
- Ther right to maintain your dignity and religious beliefs
- The right to be affiliated to your father and mother through parentage
- Your father, mother or legal guardian must obtain your identity documents according to the Law.
What are your rights to expression?
- The right to express your opinion freely while considering public etiquette and the laws in force in the UAE
- The right to be granted the opportunity to express your opinions on matters related to you within the limits of the UAE laws
- The right to protection against arbitrariness, harm, or injustice in your life, family and home, where your honor and reputation must not be compromised
- The right not to work before the age of 15, where the country will ensure that you are not employed in any hazardous work.
What are your rights in your household?
- It is the responsibility of your mother, father or guardian to nurture, look after you and provide you with family safety
- It is the responsibility of your mother, father or guardian to raise you, take care of you and guide you
- You have the right to know your mother and father and your natural family and to receive care from them. You also have the right to maintain a personal relationship and direct contact with your parents
- You have the right to custody, breastfeeding, financial support and the protection of yourself, your honor, your religion and your property, according to UAE laws.
What do you know about your health rights?
- You have the right to access health and psychological services
- The country must provide you with the best preventive, curative and psychological care related to your health, nutrition and offer you health guidance
- You have the right to receive necessary vaccinations and immunizations, and the right to early detection for the diagnosis of any disability or illness
- You have the right to protection from drugs, tobacco, stimulants and alcoholic beverages.
What are your social rights?
- The right to a decent standard of living
- The right to receive financial assistance from the country if your family requires it
- The right to be taken care of by a foster family or social care institutions, if you do not have a family or if an alternative family is not available.
What are your cultural rights?
- The right to access knowledge and engage in innovation, creativity and participate in cultural, scientific and artistic programs
- In order to protect you, the country does not allow you to watch television programs, movies and internet content that are not suitable for your age
- The country shall establish associations and centers specifically for the development of your cultural, artistic, scientific and physical skills and potential.
What are your educational rights?
- The right to pursue your education, to benefit from improvement of the educational system and enjoy a violence-free school environment.
What are your rights to protection?
You have the right to protection from anything that threatens your physical, psychological, moral or mental well-being, especially in the case of:
- Losing both parents, with no family or guardian available
- Deliberate promotion of hate or bigotry against others or incitement to violence
- Exposure to rejection, neglect and homelessness
- Exposure to begging or economic exploitation
- The inability of parents or the caregiver to provide the right upbringing and care for children
- Lack of proper upbringing
- Exposure to abuse
- Being kidnapped or exploited in any way
- Sexual exploitation or abuse
- Having a mental or psychological disability.