Jail inmates talks to loved ones via video chat; cities linked to system

Often during difficult family times, talking with parents and close relatives can be extremely comforting for children trying to cope with the temporary absence of a loved one.

With that view in mind, children of inmates can now chat up close and personal with their parents who are serving time in Sharjah Rehabilitation and Punitive Centre through a new video chat service introduced by Sharjah Social Services Department.

The Department of Social Services launched the “Roaya” project, which allows children to see their parents in Sharjah penal institutions through an online platform.

The new project has been launched by the Sharjah Police in cooperation with the Sharjah Family Court, in conjunction with the Emirates Innovation Month.

The chairman of the legitimate court of Sharjah and the chairman of the standing committee for the care of children deprived of social welfare, counselor Salem Ali Matar Al Hosani, said that the new project has been launched along the lines of the Ministry of Justice’s strategy to implement partnerships with the Sharjah government departments.

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This project allows children to see their parents without administrative or legal obstacles. Moreover, it fulfills the requirement of the Personal Status Law, which prevents children from seeing prisons, police stations or places that are inappropriate with the nature and personality of the children.

The rapporteur of the standing committee for the care of children deprived of social welfare Ahmed Al Tartour, explained that the project “Roaya” is an idea that came from the perceived urgent humanitarian need of the community towards parents or children; and it is through brainstorming meetings that the committee saw that it could benefit from the internet by launching this platform.

The project is connected electronically through nine cities in the Emirate of Sharjah which includes:

Sharjah City

Al Hamriya

Al Dhaid

Al Bata’aeh

Al Madam

Dibba Al Hisn

Maliha

Kalba

Khor Fakkan