As a subsidiary of the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), SCFO was
established in 2011 under the directives of HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH
DR. SULTAN BIN MOHAMMED ALQASIMI, Member of the Supreme Council
and Ruler of Sharjah. The entity collaborates and partners with
local and international entities to design and implement
targeted strategies aimed at ensuring that the rights of
children and youth of all ages and nationalities – including
children of special needs – are met, and to promote and sustain
the emirate as a Child, Youth, and Baby Family-Friendly city.
Bolstering Sharjah’s position as a pioneer in
providing support, care, and quality services to children of all
ages, SCFO priorities the wellbeing and development of children
and upholds their rights in accordance with the highest
international standards and guidelines.
The emirate of Sharjah’s pioneering efforts and accomplishments
in recognizing and prioritizing children’s rights led to its
being conferred with a prestigious accolade from UNICEF, making
it the first city in the Middle East to become a Child Friendly
City (CFC), and the first in the world to win the title after
successfully meeting the new international requirements and
criteria launched by UNICEF in 2018.
Adapting UNICEF‘s global Child Friendly Cities
Initiative (CFCI) model, SCFO has since accelerated Sharjah’s
integrated child-friendly approach to all services provided for
children and youth as it builds on Sharjah’s vision to be a
leading global model for child-friendly cities.
SCFO
is today the official body tasked with granting ‘Child Friendly’
and ‘Baby Family Friendly’ accreditations to relevant entities
in Sharjah and the UAE, and works with national and
international organizations to implement accreditation programs
to further promote children’s rights.