UAE News Agency (WAM), Sunday 6 Jun 2010
Personal Status Law In Focus
Abu Dhabi, WAM:
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairperson of
Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the General Women's Union
(GWU), a seminar was held recently on the provisions of child custody as
enshrined in the Personal Status Law of the country.
The seminar organized by the Institute of Training and Judicial Studies in
association with the General Women's Union was held at the headquarters of the
GWU in Abu Dhabi.
The seminar led by Chancellor Dr. Mohamed Mahmoud Al-Kamali, Director General of
the Institute of Training and Judicial Studies, was attended by Noora Al Suwaidi
Director General Women's Union, a number of officials, women leaders, a large
number of students, legal activists and media representatives.
Dr. Hassan Al Hammadi, Chairman of the Technical Office of the Federal Supreme
Court and professor at the Institute of Training and Judicial Studies, presented
a paper entitled "The new provisions on child custody in the Personal Status
Law".
Defining the concept of custodianship Dr. Hammadi explained various rules
regulating it as well as the key conditions and responsibilities including
sustenance and education of the child.
He reviewed the major provisions which have been newly developed and compared
them with the preceding articles. He clarified that the committee, which was
entrusted with the preparation of the Personal Status Law in 2005, had taken
into its consideration the rules in force since the last 30 years and the laws
that needed to be changed to keep pace with changes in society and aspects of
life.
Ahlam Al-Lamki Deputy Director of the General Women's Union for conferences and
events presented a working paper entitled "Provisions of child custody in the
Personal Status Law of the UAE : An analytical look as seen from the 'Child
Vision Office' of the General Women's Union".
Al-Lamki said that the personal status laws is one of the most important
legislation regulating family relations because of their direct impact on the
family and community.
She pointed out that the family welfare programs occupied an important priority
of the State, as is evident from the Article 15 of the Constitution, which
stipulated that family is the foundation of the society and it is built on the
pillars of religion, morality and patriotism..
She noted that the United Arab Emirates issued Federal Law No. 28 / Year 2005 on
the Personal Status, regulating various aspects of it including marriage,
divorce, custody, inheritance and others.
She noted that the Office of Vision was founded on 3 April 2001 under the
guidance of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of General Women's
Union for the implementation of court decisions relating to the vision rights of
the parents. The office was set up to facilitate the vision and the handing over
of children to either of the divorced parents in a safe atmosphere away from
police stations.
She explained the paramount role and importance of the Vision Office located in
the campus of the General Women's Union.
The paper also pointed out opinion polls conducted by the Vision Office on the
Child Custody Law and shed light on its results which suggested some changes in
the existing rules.
WAM/AB