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