Sharjah 24: The Family Affairs Committee and the Education Affairs Committee of Sharjah Consultative Council (SCC) visited Kanaf Centre overseen by the Child Safety Department, an affiliate of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), which was established with the aim of providing legal, psychological and social support to children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse.

The visit came on Tuesday, in the framework of the two committees’ work within the SCC first regular session of the eleventh legislative term, and aims to follow up on all government efforts made to serve society, families, and care for children in particular.

The Council’s delegation included from the Family Affairs Committee Saeed Matar bin Hamid Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Committee; along with members of the Committee, Rashid Ghanem Al Shamsi, Rapporteur of the Committee; Abdullah Maaden Al Ketbi; Hamid Obaid Al Hamoudi; and Dr. Hind Al Hajri. From the Committee on Education, Culture, Media and Youth Affairs, Sheikha Ali Al Naqbi, Chair of the Committee; Dr. Ahmed Saleh Al Naqbi, rapporteur of the committee; Kaltham Saif Al Tunaiji; Moza Maadhad bin Howaiden; Youssef Muhammad Al Mazrouei. From the General Secretariat of the Council, Hoda Al Hammadi, secretary of the committee, and Islam Al Shiwi, media expert.

The Council delegation was received by Hanadi Al Yafei, Director of the Child Safety Department at SCFA; Amina Al Rifai, Director of Kanaf Centre; Dr. Binna Youssef, Mental Health Officer, and employees of Kanaf centre.

During the visit, Kanaf Centre provided visitors with a comprehensive overview of the services provides, with a focus on providing a safe environment that makes the child and his family feel safe and supported, in partnership and cooperation with the centre’s main partners, who are nine different entities that include Sharjah Federal Court of First Instance, Sharjah Public Prosecution, and the Forensic Medicine Department, Sharjah Police General Command, Department of Social Services, Emirates Health Services Corporation, Sharjah Private Education Authority, Department of Family Development Centres and its branches, and Emirates School Establishment.

The centre also provided an explanation about the path of its service to the child, in addition to a statement of the joint roles and responsibilities within the agreements concluded in the framework of the efforts made by Kanaf Centre to achieve the aspirations of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and in line with the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, in supporting childhood and achieving their Highnesses’ vision of enhancing services provided to children in the Emirate of Sharjah.

It was noted that Kanaf Centre provides its services through the 24-hour helpline (800700), where the report is confirmed upon receipt, and then joint evaluation and investigation begins, conducting the medical examination, following up on the case, and providing psychological and social support, all within a cooperative and confidential framework that ensures the safety and stability of the child victim.

After the meeting, SCC delegation from the two committees visited Kanaf Centre departments, inspected its services, and listened to what is provided in each department for child care and the efforts made to contain the child in a healthy family climate.

For their part, the two committees pointed out the importance of the role played by the Kanaf Centre in achieving Sharjah’s comprehensive vision of providing distinguished services to children and families, while adhering to the basic values adopted by the Centre, which are compassion, justice, cooperation, respect, excellence, honesty and trust.