Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

An 11-year-old Emirati girl was hospitalised after collapsing from the distress caused by bullying while filming a reality show. The young girl was bullied during the filming of a children's design competition sponsored by a major international fashion retailer. After the show aired, she endured additional mockery and insults from friends and classmates, resulting in her being hospitalised for over a week. The competition was intended to be a children’s event focused on designing and drawing, including question-and-answer sessions with the participants. A close relative of the young girl said that the crew started provoking negative emotions among the contestants which unfortunately led to bullying. The situation worsened when the other contestants' mothers got involved, openly criticising her character. When she returned to school, she was subjected to constant bullying from classmates who shared clips from the show, calling her a hypocrite and a cheater. It became overwhelming for the young girl, leading to her collapse and subsequent hospitalisation. Following the incident, the Emirates Media Council announced it is closely monitoring the bullying case. In a statement on Sunday (September 22), the authority emphasised that it will not permit the display of "any content that breaches the media content standards outlined in the Media Regulation Law or the country’s child protection laws." The authority said it is in contact with the girl's family to gather more information about the incident and is investigating. They will then determine the appropriate actions to be taken based on the findings from the involved parties. The UAE Federal Law regarding child rights, referred to as Wadeema's Law, highlights the necessity of providing all children with appropriate living conditions, access to healthcare, education, and equal opportunities in essential services and facilities without discrimination. This law protects children from all forms of neglect, exploitation, and both physical and psychological abuse. FLE/Expat Media
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