Based on the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation, the Emirati Children’s Parliament, was launched. Which came in line with the full commitment of the UAE government to support the rights of the child, as stipulated in the ‘Wadeema’ law.
And to enhance the effective participation of all children, including people of determination, their families and institutions related to issues and topics related to them and to community development, and based on the guidelines of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, ‘the child’s right to express himself and his views in all matters relating to the child and to take them into consideration.’ In February 2020, the Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood announced the establishment of the first Emirati Children’s Parliament in celebration of Emirati Children’s Day. According to an agreement signed with the Federal National Council in line with the political empowerment program launched by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in keeping with the Emirati Children’s Day theme ‘The Right to Participate’.
The Emirati Children’s Parliament consists of 40 members from all the emirates, equally between males and females. Similar to the composition of the Federal National Council, and their ages range between (10 and 16 years old), and among them are members of “People of Determination” representing the children of the UAE. The membership term is two years.
The Emirati Children’s Parliament is, distributed over the Emirates, as follows:
8Abu DhabiSeats | 8DubaiSeats | 6SharjahSeats | 6Ras Al Khaimah Seats | 4AjmanSeats | 4Umm Al QuwainSeats | 4FujairahSeats