Legislation Overview
- Title: Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading - Type: Federal Decree-Law - Issued Date: 26 Sep 2016 - Effective Date: 26 Sep 2016 - Sector: Culture and Media - Number of Articles: 36 - Status: Active
Summary
The Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading aims to support the development of human resources and contribute to building the mental and knowledge capabilities of all members of UAE society. It seeks to enhance the reading culture and provide methods for lifelong learning, support national intellectual production, and ensure the sustainability of government efforts to make reading deeply rooted in the UAE. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 2) The law outlines the government's responsibilities in protecting and enhancing the right to read and facilitating the publishing of reading material. It establishes guiding principles, such as recognizing reading as a key element for knowledge, creativity, and cultural heritage development. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 4)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law applies to all government authorities responsible for protecting and enhancing the right to read and facilitating the publishing of reading material in the UAE. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 3)
What are the key definitions?
The law provides definitions for key terms, including "State," "Government Authorities," "Reading Material," "Public Library," "National Publishing Houses," "Person with Reading Difficulties," "Legal Deposit," "Knowledge Bag," "Educational Institution," and "Knowledge Communities." (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law requires government authorities to: 1. Ensure all children have the opportunity to learn to read as part of basic education and provide reading material for all members of society, including those with reading difficulties. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 5) 2. Develop language abilities of children, raise awareness on the importance of reading for newborns and children, and provide "knowledge bags" to every child. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 6) 3. Establish programs to enhance reading skills among various societal groups and encourage the use of cultural centers and forums. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 6) 4. Develop educational curricula and systems to foster reading habits, provide libraries in educational institutions, and assess reading culture. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 7) 5. Provide employees with time and opportunities to read specialized material during work hours. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 8)
What are the rights and protections?
The law establishes the right to read as a fundamental right for all members of UAE society, particularly children in early childhood. It also recognizes related rights, such as the right to learn and develop reading and writing skills, the right to intellectual property, and the cultural right to produce and enjoy cultural content. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 4)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
This legislation does not include specific provisions on penalties for non-compliance.
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The law references the UAE Constitution and Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 concerning the Competences of Ministries and the Powers of Ministers, as amended, in its preamble. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016)
When did this law come into effect and what are the transitional provisions?
The Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading came into effect on 26 September 2016, the date of its issuance. (Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading, 2016, Art. 18) The legislation does not include any specific transitional provisions.
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree-Law Regarding Reading for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.