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.

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