Director General Hanadi Al Yafei calls on young people to integrate child protection into their daily decisions and professional lives.
SHARJAH, UAE :Young people must act as essential partners in anticipating risks and protecting children within increasingly digital and rapidly evolving social environments, according to a statement issued by Sharjah’s Child Safety Department to mark International Youth Day.
Hanadi Al Yafei, Director General of the Child Safety Department (CSD) in Sharjah, emphasized that the responsibility of youth extends well beyond driving economic growth and technological innovation. Young citizens and residents play a vital role in fostering cohesive communities that prioritize prevention, safety, and the protection of children.
Given their deep familiarity with modern digital platforms and shifting social dynamics—spaces where children spend a significant portion of their time—youth are uniquely positioned to identify emerging risks. Their peer-to-peer influence and digital literacy make them key drivers in building safer environments both online and offline.
“At the Child Safety Organisation, the youth are not merely the audience for awareness messages; they are partners in shaping them and transforming them into meaningful action,” Al Yafei stated.
The organization continues to expand programs designed to actively involve young people in awareness campaigns, empowering them to design practical solutions for real-world and online hazards. By engaging youth directly, the department aims to reinforce a culture of shared community responsibility.
Addressing the younger generation, Al Yafei urged them to embed child safety principles into their daily choices, community initiatives, and career paths. She noted that establishing a secure environment for children relies on individual mindfulness and sustained cross-generational collaboration.
The Sharjah Child Safety Department, operating under the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, regularly launches targeted initiatives to safeguard children’s rights, address digital safety, and foster secure family environments across the emirate.
