Kanaf Centre's Integrated Child Protection Model Launched In Morocco For Enhanced Cooperation

The Kanaf Child Protection Centre from Sharjah recently engaged in significant meetings and workshops in Rabat, Morocco. These sessions were organised by the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child to explore how Kanaf’s integrated model could align with Morocco’s frameworks. The visit aimed to foster cooperation and exchange knowledge to replicate effective practices for supporting children who have faced abuse.

Leading the delegation was Hanadi Saleh Al Yafei, Director General of Child Safety and Chairperson of Kanaf’s Higher Committee. Discussions involved Moroccan legal, medical, psychological, and social experts from top child protection institutions. Al Yafei highlighted that this visit underscores Kanaf’s dedication to creating an Arab child protection system based on coordination and justice focused on children.

Al Yafei stated, "Our visit to Morocco stems from a firm belief that protecting children is a shared responsibility and that exchanging expertise is the fastest route to building systems capable of protecting them from all forms of harm. What unites us is a shared conviction that child-friendly justice is not an option, but a moral duty that mirrors our values and identity, and translates Sharjah’s vision of placing the child at the centre of social development and future investment."

Kanaf's model stands as the first Arab initiative employing a "one-stop centre" approach aligned with global best practices. This reflects the UAE's dedication to transforming childcare into cohesive public policy by uniting institutions, simplifying procedures, and prioritising children's best interests.

Professor Ghazlan Benjelloun, Vice-President of the National Observatory for the Rights of the Child, expressed gratitude for hosting Kanaf Centre. "We were honoured to host the Kanaf Centre as part of the ongoing collaboration between our two institutions. The visit provided an opportunity to present the Observatory’s projects and programmes in child protection, prevention, and mental health support; particularly those focused on early childhood," she said.

She further noted that this exchange allowed both parties to share knowledge and explore future partnership opportunities. These collaborations aim to enhance efforts in safeguarding children and ensuring their well-being.

Training Sessions and Knowledge Exchange

During their two-day stay in Rabat, Kanaf presented Sharjah's One-Stop Centre Model. This model integrates law enforcement, forensic medicine, psychological care, legal counselling, and specialised investigations into child abuse cases through collaboration with government entities.

Kanaf also conducted a training session titled "Socratic Questioning Skills in Interviewing Child Victims of Violence." This session emphasised dialogue techniques that improve communication, build empathy, and help professionals address challenges during interviews.

Future Plans for Joint Initiatives

The delegation demonstrated how Sharjah streamlined procedures across agencies to create a unified system offering children a safe environment for interviews, investigations, medical exams, and psychological support—all in one location. This approach reduces repetition and eases trauma for children involved.

Kanaf's model has successfully removed cultural barriers limiting access to support while enhancing legal evidence quality. It has accelerated justice processes and family recovery by combining humanitarian care with professional rigor.

Both sides discussed adapting this model within Morocco's national child protection system. They agreed on developing a joint roadmap for a pilot centre with measurable indicators like case response times and referral rates.

The discussions also covered capacity-building programmes aligned with international standards for forensic, psychological, legal, and social professionals. Comparative studies will assess the model's impact nationally to strengthen evidence-based policymaking across the region.

With inputs from WAM