The European Union wants to "partner closely" with the UAE on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, women and youth empowerment, and protection of children, the European Commission Vice-President for Democracy and Demography said.
In exclusive statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Dubravka Šuica hailed the UAE’s efforts to entail "very concrete actions and ensure law enforcement measures for child abuse," singling out in this regard the UAE’s child rights law ‘Wadeema’.
"The law has very similar objectives as our strategy and indeed the European Child Guarantee, which we adopted this year as part of the Child rights strategy. Also within the EU, we deal with inequality and social economic exclusion. So, with this child guarantee we commit to help lift children and their families out of poverty and ensure that every child has an equal start in life. I am very glad to see that we share the same objectives."
The UAE’s child rights law, she continued "protects children against all forms of negligence, exploitation, physical and psychological abuses - so does our child rights strategy in the EU. We set out concrete actions and initiatives that step up the protection of children from all forms of violence, both in the public and in the private sphere, online and offline. This also includes domestic abuse, which has increased during COVID -19 induced confinement. We will also propose a new initiative for integrated child protection systems. Too many children world-wide are still suffering from violence. This is unacceptable in any society. In this context, I am very glad to see that the "Wadeema" law entails very concrete actions and also law enforcement measures for child abuse."
Šuica was in the UAE to attend a range of events in Expo 2020 Dubai and had bilateral meetings with UAE officials.
"As we slowly emerge from the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is all the more important to strengthen the link between the realisation of child rights, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030. I am glad to see that the UAE and the EU share a similar approach and vision and look forward to our cooperation in this matter."
She underlined the significance of the UAE holding a seat in the UN Security Council. "The UAE is an important partner for the EU to foster multilateralism, especially as it takes its seat in the UN Security Council. The challenges of the 21st century call for more multilateral governance and rules-based international cooperation.
"The UN Agenda 2030 and the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs, women and youth empowerment feature prominently in EU’s engagement at Expo 2020. We want to partner closely with the UAE on this topic. I was very encouraged to see youth being a key theme of Expo 2020, with a specific pavilion dedicated to this.
"We also want to strengthen people-to-people contacts, which can greatly contribute to deepen our understanding of each other. So far, the main challenge for more enhanced people-to-people contacts has been lack of information for Emirati youth about the mobility and research opportunities between UAE and Europe."
The European official highlighted the possibility of Emirati youth benefiting from Erasmus+, a programme that provides opportunities for study periods abroad, traineeships, apprenticeships, and staff exchanges in all fields of education.
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