DUBAI: Caregivers face at least 10 years in jail and fines of up to Dh1 million if they are found involved in creating or distributing child pornography, the final version of the Child Protection Law stipulates.
Informally named Wadeema’s Law – in memory of an eight-year-old Emirati girl tortured to death by her father and his girlfriend – the legislation covers abuse and criminal negligence of children. It took effect on June 15 this year, reported The National.
The legislation included 75 articles that cover new provisions not addressed by other laws, Jassim Al Hosni, the first judge of appeals at Dubai Courts, was quoted as saying.
He reportedly said the law specified that offenders could not claim ignorance of their victim’s age as their defense. “It is noteworthy that Article 70 of the law stipulates that the offender may not claim that they are unaware of the victim’s age,” Al Hosni added.
The law prohibits production, distribution, display and possession of any photos where a child is depicted in an indecent position, whether real or simulated, the report said.
Communications companies and network service providers must notify authorities if child pornography is circulated on the internet and provide information on the people or sites circulating such material, said the news portal.
Failing to report will result in a minimum of six months in jail and fines of between Dh100,000 and Dh1m.
The law also prohibits torturing or harming a child, with offenders facing fines of at least Dh50,000, the report pointed out.
Parents or guardians can be fined more than Dh5,000 for failing to register a child at birth, not enrolling them in school and for abandoning them, reported The National.
“I believe this law will make a major difference and it will be followed by many other countries in the Middle East,” Hassan Elhais, legal consultant at Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants, reportedly said. “This law achieves all three points. It will make any potential criminal think twice before committing any of the crimes listed. The law gives the highest protection to children. It really aims to protect children from a small age until they grow up.”
