Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Organizers and participants at the World Congress on Juvenile Justice praised the UAE participation, and commended the country’s experience related to child protection and juvenile delinquency prevention programs.
The UAE was the only Arab country to take part in the World Congress on Juvenile Justice that was recently held in Geneva, Switzerland. During the congress, the UAE gave a number of presentations showcasing the diverse programs and initiatives on child protection organized by the Ministry of Interior, which were highly acclaimed by the participants.
The World Congress on Juvenile Justice was concluded with the adoption of a number of recommendations that focused on promoting a dynamic in view of strengthening the implementation of norms in juvenile justice and improving international cooperation on specific topics regarding children’s rights, but also the rights of child victims and witnesses of crime.
It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Interior’s delegation headed by Major Dr. Mohammed Khalifa Al Ali, Director of the Child Protection Centre took part in the conference. During one of the plenary sessions, the delegation gave a detailed overview of the efficiency of juvenile delinquency prevention programs.
The presentation examined the outcomes of a field study conducted in Abu Dhabi, which included interviews with a number of experts in charge of setting up such prevention programs. It also showcased a set of examples of a number of programs that aim at protecting juveniles against recidivism, by analyzing the juvenile delinquency risk factors, identifying, evaluating, and handling risks; and integrating juveniles into society.
Organized jointly by the Swiss Government and the ‘Terre des Hommes’ Foundation (TDH), this is the first World Congress on juvenile justice. Consisting of plenary sessions, roundtables and workshops, the World Congress will provide a forum conducive to the exchange of experience between countries and their different legal systems.
The week-long congress was attended by representatives of over 90 countries and more than 110 of NGOs from around the world to discuss best practices with respect to children rights and juvenile justice. The congress also aimed at promoting collaboration among countries and civil society actors in a bid to raise public awareness and implement the existing international standards in this field.
Major Dr. Mohammed Khalifa Al Ali, Director of the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Centre presented the MoI Shield as a souvenir to the organizing entity.
The UAE delegation included First Lieutenant Ahmed Al Bloushi, in charge of Strategy and Development Unit; Social Care Specialist Ruqiya Abdo Sahyef; and Specialist Marwa Al Shehhi from the Juvenile Care Center at Abu Dhabi Police.