A Community’s Commitment: Abu Dhabi Mobilises to Strengthen Child Protection

The emirate launches an integrated campaign to empower parents, educators and citizens in recognising the signs of harm and supporting vulnerable children through a unified system bringing together more than twenty agencies.

Safety for children begins not with expertise, but with attention. With noticing when something feels wrong, listening without judgment, and having the courage to speak up. This is the animating principle behind “Protecting Children Takes All of Us”, a new campaign that reflects a fundamental shift in how Abu Dhabi approaches the protection of its youngest residents: not as a challenge to be managed by specialists alone, but as a collective responsibility woven into the fabric of families, schools, hospitals and communities.

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, working alongside more than twenty local and federal partners, has established Dama Al-Aman, an integrated child protection system that unites education, health, social care, law enforcement and justice within a unified framework. Grounded in the Child Protection Policy endorsed by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council in 2023 and anchored in Wadeema’s Law, this architecture represents a deliberate reshaping of institutional practice around a single principle: that protecting children requires coordinated efforts from across society.

The campaign itself aims to provide clear, accessible guidance to help parents, educators and community members recognise potential signs of abuse or neglect, understand how to respond appropriately and know where to seek support. More than four hundred child protection specialists have already been trained, alongside practitioners across education, health and social care sectors, to help prevent harm and respond effectively when concerns arise.

Dr. Hessa Al Kaabi, Executive Director of Special Projects and Partnerships at the Early Childhood Authority, articulates the philosophy underlying this work: “Every child deserves to feel safe, to be heard, and to know there is someone they can turn to.” She emphasises that you need not be a specialist to make a difference. Sometimes, simply noticing, listening and taking action can alter the course of a child’s life.

The system draws its strength from collaboration across sectors. Major General Mohammed Suhail Al Rashdi, Director of the Criminal Security Sector at Abu Dhabi Police, underscores that protecting children is a shared responsibility requiring collective efforts by families, communities and institutions. Alia Mohammed Saeed Al Kaabi, Senior Chief Prosecutor at Abu Dhabi Family Prosecution, stresses that protection begins with recognising early warning signs and responding responsibly by reporting concerns in a timely manner to relevant authorities.

At the Family Care Authority, a dedicated Child Centre brings together relevant entities to provide integrated services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, combining case management and coordinated interventions with social, psychological and medical support. Asma Al Azri, Executive Director of the Family Cases Sector, describes this as reflecting the power of partnership in creating safe, supportive environments. In education, Mariam Alhallami, Executive Director of the Private Education and Charter Schools Sector at the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, notes that schools can only fulfil their promise when students feel safe, valued and supported, with educators equipped to identify concerns early.

Healthcare professionals occupy a particular place in this system. Dr. Durra Alblooshi, Acting Executive Director of the Community Health Sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, observes that healthcare workers are often among the first to recognise when a child needs protection. Changes in physical or mental health during clinical checkups may reveal what children find difficult to express. Trained professionals embedded within the Dama Al-Aman framework, including those working within dedicated Child Protection Units, can recognise these signs and provide appropriate care in coordination with relevant authorities.

The campaign will reach communities through schools, community Majlises, traditional media and digital platforms over the coming months. A newly launched website at http://www.damaalaman.ae provides a dedicated hub offering practical guides, information on how the child protection system works, and guidance on reporting concerns. Child protection concerns can be reported through the Ministry of Interior’s Child Protection Hotline on 116111, the Family Care Authority’s 24-hour hotline on 800444, or in emergencies, Abu Dhabi Police on 999.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This campaign represents a maturation of institutional thinking about child welfare in the emirate. By bringing together twenty-one agencies within a unified framework, Abu Dhabi signals that protecting vulnerable children requires more than individual goodwill: it demands structural integration, shared responsibility and clear pathways for action. The training of more than four hundred specialists, coupled with the dissemination of practical guidance to broader communities, creates multiple layers of protection.

For families and educators, the campaign offers reassurance that support exists and that observing concerning signs is not futile. For healthcare workers and law enforcement, it clarifies their role within a larger system. For the emirate itself, it reflects a commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow safe, supported and able to thrive.

Source: WAM