On 10 September 2026, Prof. Shatha Al-Sharbatti, Head of the Department of Community Medicine, and Dr. Soma Ibrahim Ali, Associate Dean of the College of Nursing, represented Gulf Medical University at the consultation session held at the Youth Centre, Al Dhait, Ras Al Khaimah. The session focused on developing the National Roadmap to End Violence Against Children 2026-2030 and aimed to gather input from relevant stakeholders, identify existing gaps and effective practices, and develop recommendations to strengthen child-protection pathways across the Northern Emirates.
The session began with welcoming remarks from the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and UNICEF, followed by an introduction to the objectives and expected outcomes of the consultation.
The first session, delivered by the UNICEF representative, was entitled:
“Framing Presentation: The National Roadmap to End Violence Against Children”
The presentation provided an overview of the INSPIRE Framework and the main pillars of the National Roadmap, with particular emphasis on the service-delivery model across federal entities and their local branches.
Following the presentation, the methodology for the group discussions was explained, including the discussion questions and the roles of the facilitator and rapporteur. Participants were divided into specialised working groups according to their roles within the child-protection system. The relevant groups included:
- Group 1: Law Enforcement and Justice
- Group 2: Health Sector
- Group 3: Education
Prof. Shatha Al-Sharbatti and Dr. Soma Ibrahim participated in Group 2: Health Sector.
The Health Sector group was presented with a case scenario involving children who had experienced violence. A detailed group discussion was conducted to identify gaps, existing practices, and recommendations that could support and strengthen the National Roadmap.
At the end of the group discussion, one member presented the group’s findings and recommendations to all participants. This was followed by a general discussion of the common observations and priorities identified across the different sectors.
The organizers announced that another meeting would be held between 15 and 30 October 2026 to review and approve the final version of the National Roadmap. Participants in the consultation session will be invited to attend and contribute to the final approval process.
Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week
At the end of the Session, a representative from Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority announced that Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week will take place from 16 to 22 November 2026. All institutions were encouraged to participate in and contribute to the activities and initiatives planned during the week. These initiatives aim to support children’s optimal development, from newborns through the age of eight, by focusing on health and nutrition, child protection, early education, and family support, enabling every child to thrive and reach their full potential.
