Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), reiterated the commitment of Sharjah, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to prioritise the family. In particular, emphasis is placed on recognising children as an integral component of the familial structure. Her Highness emphasised the imperative for all entities in Sharjah to actively contribute to the well-being, safety, and holistic development of children, alongside ensuring the overall safety and inclusivity of the family unit.

During a recent call to ‘Direct Line’ (Al Khat Al Mubasher) TV and radio show, Her Highness discussed the establishment of Kanaf, a first-of-its-kind child protection centre in the UAE and the broader region. Operational since 2023, the centre falls under the jurisdiction of the Child Safety Department in Sharjah, and the primary goal of the initiative is to provide specialised legal, psychological, and social support to young victims of physical and sexual abuse, as well as their families. Kanaf aims to streamline and coordinate the efforts of various legal, medical, and social entities, bringing them together under one comprehensive programme.

 

Protecting children through partnership

Her Highness shared that the inception of Kanaf traces back to 2020, when a comprehensive exploration of successful global practices commenced, where Her Highness personally visited and scrutinised numerous institutions and organisations to draw inspiration for the establishment of Kanaf. This initiative functions as a unifying umbrella, consolidating various entities and institutions in the Emirate of Sharjah dedicated to addressing issues of child abuse and domestic violence. These include the Sharjah Public Prosecution, Sharjah Federal Court of First Instance, Sharjah Police, Sharjah Social Services Department, the Forensic Medicine Department at the Ministry of Justice, Al Qassimi Women's and Children's Hospital, the Child Protection Unit at Emirates Schools Establishment, the Department of Family Development Centres affiliated with SCFA, and Sharjah Private Education Authority.

Her Highness also noted that meetings were held with all partners to agree on the principles that define Kanaf’s directives and missions.

Privacy and professionality

In response to a question regarding Kanaf's effectiveness in facilitating procedures for child abuse cases, Her Highness underscored the  depth of experience and capabilities that Emirati institutions already posses in fostering the wellbeing of children, further noting that Kanaf was established with the specific goal of streamlining these processes under a single roof to shield children from the impact of prolonged and fragmented procedures, and handling each case with utmost privacy.

Upon receiving a report of child abuse, the Department of Social Services transfers the case to Kanaf, where all relevant entities collaborate in a coordinated manner under one roof. This approach ensures that the case is managed in a child-friendly environment, with the child being interviewed by a specialist only once, in the absence of a large audience. This practice aims to prevent the child from feeling intimidated or scared, reducing the likelihood of altering their testimony due to fear of the situation.

Her Highness said: “There are specially designed response modules emulating games to assist children who cannot express what they have gone through, identify perpetrators  including potential family members for young victims to indicate who committed the abuse, and also identify body parts that have undergone abuse. There is also a special room for forensics.”

Her Highness emphasised that all observation and interview rooms at Kanaf are monitored by surveillance cameras.

Creating a secure environment for all children

Addressing the potential reluctance of families to seek assistance from Kanaf and their inclination to resolve issues within the confines of the home, Her Highness clarified that each child is provided with a legal representative to avoid their direct involvement in court proceedings, and returns home safe and sound after treatment. Kanaf maintains continuous follow-up and support for the case even after the treatment phase and that the centre is open to all cases of sexual or physical violence against children. Her Highness underscored the humanitarian nature of these issues, asserting that they cannot be compartmentalised. The overarching goal is to guarantee the safety of the community and create a secure environment for all children, irrespective of their citizenship or residency status.

Her Highness said: “Children are at risk of facing abuse, at home, school, or on the street, and the assault could come from unassuming individuals. Therefore, Kanaf's doors are open to dealing with each case privately and anonymously.” Noting we exist in times where family values can be negatively influenced or undermined by several forces at play, Her Highness emphasised the role of awareness around the issue, mentioning future projects that are being designed to tackle these concerns.

“Today, mothers are compelled to leave their children for hours and must be vigilant”, Her Highness warned, praising Kanaf and its staff, who have received comprehensive training. “We always advise them to be vigilant, aware, and proactive in avoiding such incidents rather than reacting to them,” Sheikha Jawaher opined.

Her Highness clarified that Kanaf is not a shelter, and cases needing shelter fall under the responsibility of social services, with whom coordination is made to assess the case.

Responding to a question on what distinguishes Kanaf from other similar projects, Her Highness said: “I've been in charge of Kanaf since the beginning, with support from the Ruler of Sharjah. When starting such a project, you feel every child is your own, questioning how to protect them physically and mentally and keep them away from harm. Additionally, the project must ensure privacy and that the workers bear the responsibility of trust for the child and their family.”

In conclusion, Her Highness said: “Sharjah and the UAE deserve to see their efforts in child and family care bear fruit in a healthy and safe community. We do not want to instil imported values; we want to instil our values, culture, and religion in our children. This is the right process of building a society and a future, and it is essential that our children are empowered, knowing when to say yes and when to say no. The child is a priority at home, and it is crucial to agree on this.”