Dubai: The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai announced the launch of a virtual training course in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative aims to empower and qualify trainers and acquaint them with the applicable methods and criteria for educating children about their rights. The initiative is part of the Authority’s endeavors to enrich knowledge and enhance skills and capabilities in the field of familiarizing children with their duties and rights, which will afford them a higher quality of life and a secure future. The course follows innovative models and various methods in education, training, development and other practices.

A large number of participants are attending the training course, which runs until January 28, 2021, in both Arabic and English languages. These include teachers, administrative staff, and those interested in the educational field and children's rights, from both public and private schools. The initiative is poised to give participants a deeper understanding of children's rights and the best methods to familiarize children with their rights and duties in order to ensure their safety, stability and happiness.

The course also features a series of awareness-raising exercises on the rights and duties and the values of citizenship, in addition to ways to build a harmonious and cohesive society that understands the importance of innovation; seeks to consolidate it; and promotes children's rights within various community institutions.

Maitha Al Shamsi, CEO, Human Rights Sector at CDA, commented: “The virtual training course is a result of our close collaboration with UNICEF. It is designed to raise awareness on children's rights in line with our strategic objectives to raise the society’s awareness on children’s rights and its ability to protect them. Through this important initiative, we look forward to connecting with the society’s largest possible segment that deals with children, and to raise their awareness on children's rights and their responsibilities towards them. This will help us raise a new generation that is balanced, happy and qualified to continue the journey of progress and development to the future.”

She added: “This step is the continuation of our efforts in the field of rehabilitation and empowerment of those dealing with children, as we believe that the establishment of a healthy, cohesive and productive society requires a culture and a comprehensive awareness of rights and duties. Additionally, this training constitutes an ideal opportunity to spread awareness about the laws adopted by the UAE in the field of children’s rights, and the international covenants that it has ratified in this context besides the ‘Wadeema’ law, which bridges the gaps and completes the legal system of children's rights in the country.”

Al Shamsi further underlined the Authority's keenness to continue its efforts and endeavors to reach out to the largest possible segment of the community and educate them about children's rights and how to protect them. She highlighted CDA’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with all concerned parties and individuals to achieve national aspirations in the field of child protection and to preserve their achievements.

Through this virtual training initiative, CDA seeks to develop the skills of the participants in the field of children's rights, train them on awareness-raising activities for children according to their educational stages, and teach them the latest effective training methods. Furthermore, the endeavor will also enhance their awareness on the International Convention on the Rights of the Child and the local laws adopted in the UAE.

All participants are required to practice and implement the awareness-raising activities related to the children’s rights in their respective institutions after the completion of the training course. They will also remain committed to continuing efforts in coordination with CDA regarding children rights education programs, as well as documenting all activities and events implemented inside and outside schools through a file special documentation in each school.