Dubai hosts 5th Arab Regional Conference on Prevention of Child Abuse

Under the patronage of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, DFWAC, will bring together leading representatives, officials from global bodies, and UAE government representatives, at the 5th Arab Regional Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, ArabCAN.

The conference, organised under the theme, "From Legislation to Implementation", is set to take place between18th and 22nd November at the Roda Al Bustan Hotel, Dubai.

The conference aims to strengthen national child protection systems, and is set to host officials and representatives from organisations and institutions focusing on child welfare, at both regional and international levels. Organised by DFWAC, the conference will focus on the latest advances in the field of child abuse and neglect, and also share best practices and multi-disciplinary approaches to the prevention and response to all forms of violence against children.

A large number of local, regional and international delegates, including representatives from the World Health Organisation, WHO, and UNICEF, as well as government officials from the UAE, will also be in attendance. Among them are Jameela Al Muheiri, Minister of State for Public Education, Hessa Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, Susan Bissell, Chief of Child Protection, Programme Division, UNICEF, Jenny Gray, OBE, and many others.

The opening ceremony of the conference will be held on 20th of November as there will be 2-days 'preconference', which will include a number of workshops and training sessions for professionals.

"Dubai is actively striving to achieve happiness and welfare for all citizens," says Abdulla bin Souqat, Member of the Board of Directors of DFWAC and Chairman of the Organising Committee of ArabCAN 2017. "The gathering of so many eminent personalities from the field of child protection and welfare is a mark of the great trust that the international community places in Dubai’s role in achieving wellness for all."

"We, at DFWAC, are proud to work towards making the 5th Arab Regional Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect a success," said Afra Al Basti, Director-General of DFWAC. "The fact that it is being held in Dubai for the very first time speaks a great deal about the emirate’s strengths. Being associated with this landmark event reinforces our mission towards ensuring that safeguards are in place for all women and children in society."

"We are currently living in a world constantly in flux and now more than ever, child protection must be accorded the greatest attention," said Dr. Bernard Gerbaka, President of the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, ISPCAN. "For decades, the ISPCAN has played a crucial role in spreading awareness about the causes of abuse to children and the 5th Arab Regional Conference on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect gives us the chance to drive this awareness of the most vulnerable among us."