Child abuse hotline launched in Abu Dhabi

Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, on Monday opened the second global summit on ‘Ending online child sexual exploitation’, held under the theme of ‘We Protect’, in Abu Dhabi. The summit is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and organised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI). Sheikh Saif also launched a hotline to facilitate reports for child abuse cases at the summit. Meanwhile, in his inaugural speech welcoming guests to the UAE - the host of the summit, he said, "We gather here today to work together to find solutions for the issue of child abuse; and in the hope that we will stand as a bulwark against those who attempt to jeopardize the innocence of the world’s children and to undermine their promising future." He conveyed to the audience the greetings of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who expressed their hope that the summit would achieve its goals in promoting coordination and cooperation and attain the noble objective of protecting our children. Sheikh Saif said, "I would like to take this opportunity to express the heartfelt and most sincere condolences of the leadership, the government and the people of the UAE to the families and friends of the victims of the Paris terror bombings – such heinous attacks that have betrayed humanity and cost these men and women their lives." He asserted that the UAE stands in solidarity with France and with the international forces in the fight to uproot the forces of evil, darkness and extremism. He added, "I came across this quote in the media, which says that terrorism has no religion. I would like to add that terrorism is an embodiment of malice and hatred, and a rejection of humanitarian and civilised values; and I don’t think that any heavenly religion advocates crimes against religions or humanity." Sheikh Saif underlined that the UAE has always endeavored to promote the protection of the international community, and would continue to do so. He noted that the UAE has always been committed to fighting hatred wherever it exists; an approach that is derived from the noble values of Islam, Arab traditions and the cultural heritage of the people of the Arabian Gulf region. Hotline During his tour on the sidelines of the summit’s activities and events, Sheikh Saif inaugurated the 116111 hotline. The hotline is an integrated system designed to facilitate reports for child abuse cases via the ‘Hemayati’ smartphone application (which means ‘protect me’ in English). Reports may also be made via the centre’s website. Upon receiving a report through the advanced hotline system, especially urgent cases, the Police Operations Room is notified, who in turn launches its operations with high readiness to provide prompt support. Should the case require further study or social or psychological support, it will be referred to the Social Support Centres and Community Police Departments in the UAE. Sheikh Saif said that the summit convened in order to protect the most treasured possession, an unparalleled fortune; and to build a bulwark that protects children from falling prey to immoral predators. He noted that the success hinges on joint forces and collectively working together to create a safe and stable international environment– it cannot be done alone. Sheikh Saif said that this joint cooperation will make use of all available resources towards further development and prosperity, and will work hand-in-hand with others around the world in order to achieve these goals. Key speakers The opening ceremony began with the national anthem performed by a number of students in Abu Dhabi. The attendees viewed an introductory video, focusing on the objectives of the summit and the importance of such significant participation in the Abu Dhabi summit; which included governments, and private and public sectors. They also reviewed some statistics related to the inhumane crime of child abuse, stressing the importance of promoting and cooperation of international efforts to build strong partnerships to protect the children. The video also showed an aspect of the UAE Ministry’s efforts through its specialized departments related to child protection, through the most prominent achievements of the UAE making it a leader in the field. Baroness Shields, UK Minister for Internet Safety and Security, gave a speech where she stressed the importance of international cooperation to provide a safe environment for children on the internet. She hailed the keenness of the UAE’s government, and its efforts in organizin