Latest news with #ChildProtectionLaw
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
When can you leave your kids home alone in Michigan? What to know as summer vacation nears
Most students in Michigan are approaching summer vacation, a time for a relaxing and fun break from the long school year. Parents, though, typically aren't on that kind of schedule and might find themselves wondering at what age it's legal to leave children home unattended over summer vacation. "Every parent eventually faces the decision to leave their child home alone for the first time," the Michigan's Child Welfare Information Gateway said in a fact sheet. "Whether they are just running to the store for a few minutes or working during after-school hours, parents need to be sure their children have the skills and maturity to handle the situation safely. Being trusted to stay home alone can be a positive experience for a child who is mature and well prepared." In Michigan, there is no minimum age at which children may be left home alone without supervision. Michigan law does regulate how young a child can be to remain in a vehicle alone. Parents, however, should consider many factors before leaving their children alone. "When deciding whether to leave a child home alone, you will want to consider your child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being," the Child Welfare Information Gateway said. Here's what you should know when making a decision. According to the National Child Care Information Center, only Illinois and Maryland currently have laws regarding a minimum age for leaving a child home alone. Even in those states, other factors, such as concern for a child's well-being and the amount of time the child is left alone, are considered. According to the Child Protection Law, there is no legal age that a child can be left home alone, the Michigan Mandated Reporters' Resource Guide says."...But as a general rule, a child 10 years old and younger is not responsible enough to be left home alone. A child over the age of 10 and under the age of 12 will be evaluated, but the case may not always be assigned for a CPS investigation," the guide says. It's important to consider their maturity and if they've demonstrated responsible behavior in the past: Is your child physically and mentally able to care for him- or herself? Does your child obey rules and make good decisions? Does your child feel comfortable or fearful about being home alone? You may also want to consider certain circumstance like: How long will your child be left home alone at one time? Will it be during the day, evening, or night? Will the child need to fix a meal? How often will the child be expected to care for him- or herself? How many children are being left home alone? Children who themselves are ready to stay home alone may not necessarily be ready to care for younger siblings. Is your home safe and free of hazards? How safe is your neighborhood? There are other points to consider: Have a trial period. Leave the child home alone for a short time while staying close to home. Role play. Act out possible situations to help your child learn what to do. Establish rules. Make sure your child knows what is (and is not) allowed when you are not home. Some experts suggest making a list of chores or other tasks to keep children busy while you are gone. Check in. Call your child while you are away to see how it's going, or have a trusted neighbor or friend check in. Talk about it. Encourage your child to share his or her feelings with you about staying home alone. Don't overdo it. Even a mature, responsible child shouldn't be home alone too much. Consider other options, such as programs offered by schools, community centers, youth organizations, or churches, to help keep your child busy and involved It's also important to establish a safety plan so your child knows what to do and who to contact in an emergency situation. Other factors include: Can your child follow this plan? Does your child know his or her full name, address, and phone number? Does your child know where you are and how to contact you at all times? Does your child know the full names and contact information of other trusted adults, in case of emergency? Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Leaving children home alone in Michigan. What are the rules
The Star
22-05-2025
- The Star
Police arrest six members of viral incest-promoting Facebook group
JAKARTA: Police have arrested six suspected members of a viral Facebook group accused of sharing incest-themed adult content, amid mounting public outrage and increasing demands for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The National Police's Director of Cyber Crimes, Brig Gen Himawan Bayu Aji, said the six suspects, which have been identified only by their initials DK, MR, MS, MJ, MA and KA, were arrested in separate operations across West Java, Central Java, Lampung and Bengkulu. 'The suspects have been charged under the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, the Pornography Law, the Child Protection Law and the Sexual Violence Law, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 6 billion,' Himawan said on Wednesday (May 21), as reported by He said the six suspects were allegedly involved in a Facebook group called Fantasi Sedarah (Incest Fantasies), which went viral on May 14 for sharing incest-themed content, including explicit narratives, images and pornographic material, mostly targeting minors. According to authorities, the group was allegedly created by suspect MR in August 2024 and had tens of thousands of members before it was taken down on May 15. Police found 402 images and seven videos containing child pornography on MR's devices. One of the suspects, DK, was identified as an active contributor to the group and is accused of selling child pornographic material, charging Rp 50,000 for 20 videos and Rp 100,000 for a package of 40 videos and images. Two other suspects, MS and MJ, were also among the group's most active members. Authorities allege they regularly produced explicit content involving minors using their mobile phones. MJ had previously been on the Bengkulu Police's wanted list in connection with a similar case. Suspect MA was allegedly involved in downloading and distributing child pornography, with police discovering 66 images and two explicit videos involving minors on his devices. The sixth suspect, KA, was found to be an active member not only of the Fantasi Sedarah group but also of several other Facebook groups promoting incest and the sexual exploitation of children. Himawan said the police are continuing to track members of similar Facebook groups. Ai Maryati Solihah, chair of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), has called on the government to impose firm sanctions on the suspects and to intensify efforts to monitor child pornography on digital platforms. "These types of groups pose a grave threat to the safety and well-being of Indonesian children," she said on Wednesday. 'There can be no tolerance for sexual abuse, particularly in communities that not only tried to normalise such practices but also systematically exploit children in the digital space. The state must take stern action to protect the victims and dismantle these networks,' she added. KPAI Commissioner Kawiyan stressed that this case underscores how the digital space can become a breeding ground for child predators if platforms and the government do not effectively regulate and monitor content. "There is no room for complacency. This is the moment for the state to demonstrate that the safety of children takes precedence over algorithms, traffic and digital profits," Kawiyan said. In the wake of public outrage over the Fantasi Sedarah group, the Communications and Digital Affairs Ministry acted swiftly, coordinating with Meta, Facebook's parent company, to block the group, along with five others that shared similar content. Meta said the sexual exploitation of children was "a horrific crime" that cannot be tolerated. The company assured that it had taken immediate action to remove these groups and protect users, especially teenagers and children, from harmful content. "Over the years, we continue to develop advanced technologies to combat this crime and support law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting those responsible," a Meta spokesperson said in a recent statement, as quoted by Kompas. The company stated that such policies are essential to deter offenders and prevent the spread of groups exploiting children sexually. "[Online child predators] continuously adapt their tactics to evade detection. Our expert teams are actively monitoring emerging trends to stay one step ahead," Meta said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Summer vacation is approaching. Is your child ready to stay home alone? What to consider
It won't be long before children are out of school for the summer. Most parents aren't on that kind of schedule and might find themselves wondering at what age it's legal to leave children home unattended over summer vacation. "Every parent eventually faces the decision to leave their child home alone for the first time," the Michigan's Child Welfare Information Gateway said in a fact sheet. "Whether they are just running to the store for a few minutes or working during after-school hours, parents need to be sure their children have the skills and maturity to handle the situation safely. Being trusted to stay home alone can be a positive experience for a child who is mature and well prepared." In Michigan, there is no minimum age at which children may be left home alone without supervision. Michigan law does regulate how young a child can be to remain in a vehicle alone. Parents, however, should consider many factors before leaving their children alone. "When deciding whether to leave a child home alone, you will want to consider your child's physical, mental, and emotional well-being," the Child Welfare Information Gateway said. Here's what you should know when making a decision. According to the National Child Care Information Center, only Illinoisand Maryland currently have laws regarding a minimum age for leaving a child home alone. Even in those states, other factors, such as concern for a child's well-being and the amount of time the child is left alone, are considered. According to the Child Protection Law, there is no legal age that a child can be left home alone, the Michigan Mandated Reporters' Resource Guide says."...But as a general rule, a child 10 years old and younger is not responsible enough to be left home alone. A child over the age of 10 and under the age of 12 will be evaluated, but the case may not always be assigned for a CPS investigation," the guide says. It's important to consider their maturity and if they've demonstrated responsible behavior in the past: Is your child physically and mentally able to care for him- or herself? Does your child obey rules and make good decisions? Does your child feel comfortable or fearful about being home alone? You may also want to consider certain circumstance like: How long will your child be left home alone at one time? Will it be during the day, evening, or night? Will the child need to fix a meal? How often will the child be expected to care for him- or herself? How many children are being left home alone? Children who themselves are ready to stay home alone may not necessarily be ready to care for younger siblings. Is your home safe and free of hazards? How safe is your neighborhood? There are other points to consider: Have a trial period. Leave the child home alone for a short time while staying close to home. Role play. Act out possible situations to help your child learn what to do. Establish rules. Make sure your child knows what is (and is not) allowed when you are not home. Some experts suggest making a list of chores or other tasks to keep children busy while you are gone. Check in. Call your child while you are away to see how it's going, or have a trusted neighbor or friend check in. Talk about it. Encourage your child to share his or her feelings with you about staying home alone. Don't overdo it. Even a mature, responsible child shouldn't be home alone too much. Consider other options, such as programs offered by schools, community centers, youth organizations, or churches, to help keep your child busy and involved It's also important to establish a safety plan so your child knows what to do and who to contact in an emergency situation. Other factors include: Can your child follow this plan? Does your child know his or her full name, address, and phone number? Does your child know where you are and how to contact you at all times? Does your child know the full names and contact information of other trusted adults, in case of emergency? Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Can I leave my child by themselves in Michigan? What to consider
Sharjah 24
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Public Prosecution organises 5 legal awareness seminars
Lectures targeted various segments of society to enhance their understanding of the laws and legislation that affect their daily lives. Regulating donations The Public Prosecution held a seminar titled "The Legal Methodology for Regulating Donations in Accordance with Emirati Legislation", presented by Dr. Saeed Ali Al Ketbi, Attorney General at Sharjah Public Prosecution. The seminar was held at the Muwailih Suburb Council headquarters, in the presence of Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Suburbs Affairs Department; Counselor Anwar Al Harmoudi, Attorney General and Chairman of the Sharjah Public Prosecution Authority; Dr. Abdullah Sulaiman Al Kabouri, Director of the Department; and number of senior officials. The seminar addressed the most prominent legislation regulating donations' collection, emphasising the importance of directing charitable work legally, preserving the credibility of humanitarian work and limiting illegal exploitation. Preserving family cohesion The Public Prosecution also held another seminar titled "The Role of the Public Prosecution in Preserving the Family and Family Cohesion", presented by Mr. Mohammed Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Shehhi, Head of Sharjah General Prosecution. The seminar addressed the role of Public Prosecution in protecting the family and strengthening its bonds, highlighting the laws that enhance the stability of the Emirati family, thus contributing to the protection of the social fabric. Artificial Intelligence and Law At Al Bustan Suburb Council in Al Dhaid City, Dr. Abdullah Saeed Al Wali, Chief Prosecutor of Al Dhaid Prosecution, delivered a lecture titled "Artificial Intelligence and Law". The lecture focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on legal legislation and how UAE law can keep pace with rapid digital transformations. It also addressed issues of electronic privacy, cybercrime, and the role of artificial intelligence in developing investigative tools. Obligations and Rights of Domestic Workers and Employers At Al Rahmaniya Suburb Council, a seminar titled "Obligations and Rights of Domestic Workers and Employers According to Laws and Regulations" was held. The seminar was delivered by Dr. Walid Khalid Al Hammadi, Chief Prosecutor of Sharjah Public Prosecution. The seminar addressed several topics, including an explanation of the rights of domestic workers and the obligations of employers, as well as a clarification of the provisions of the laws and regulations governing this relationship to ensure justice for both parties. Child Protection Law The seminar series concluded with an important lecture titled "Child Protection Law", delivered by Dr. Saeed Abdullah Al Naqbi. The lecture addressed legal awareness related to protecting children's rights, reviewing the laws that guarantee their psychological and physical safety, and the role of society and the family in protecting them from any violations.
Euronews
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Growing anti-LGBTIQ narratives sparks 'alarm' across Europe
Attacks against LGBTIQ people are rising across Europe, indicating a worrying trend of normalisation and an increase in discriminatory legislation, according to a new report by ILGA-Europe, an NGO umbrella organisation. Civil society organisations and politicians warn of the spread and political mainstreaming of anti-LGBTIQ narratives across Europe. 'Reading this review, we can only be alarmed and worried," said Ana Carla Pereira, Director of the Equality and Non-discrimination Unit at DG JUST in the European Commission. While acknowledging some progress in recent years, she warned that the overall situation is becoming increasingly troubling. 'This report provides us with a reality check of the work that still needs to be done', agreed MEP Alessandro Zan (Italy/S&D). Katrin Hugendubel, Advocacy Director at ILGA-Europe, emphasised during the report's presentation that anti-LGBTIQ campaigns are paving the way for restrictive legislation in many European countries. She warned that ongoing homophobic and transphobic hate and misinformation campaigns have laid the groundwork for laws such as anti-propaganda laws and foreign agent laws, which, while ostensibly targeting LGBTIQ rights, extend much further—introducing censorship, stigmatisation, and the persecution of human rights defenders and opposition figures. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's so-called "Child Protection Law" has been challenged by the European Commission at the European Court of Justice for allegedly violating EU treaties. Similarly, Bulgaria's anti-propaganda laws have faced widespread EU criticism. 'In 2024, politicians in many countries —including Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Moldova, and Romania— weaponised discriminatory narratives against LGBTIQ people during election periods specifically,' added Hugendubel. One example shown in the report is Belgium, where, in the run-up to the national and regional elections in June, Vlaams Belang, a Flemish nationalist, right-wing political party, "actively promoted anti-LGBTIQ rhetoric through hate speech and bias-motivated discourse." Commission withdrawal of equality initiative The report comes just a week after the European Commission announced the withdrawal of a directive aimed at ensuring equal treatment regardless of age, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Lawmakers and civil society groups have condemned the decision, warning that it weakens the EU's commitment to equality. 'It has been quite a hard hit that the Commission decides to withdraw the horizontal discrimination legislation,' said Kim Van Sparrentak, Dutch MEP from the Greens. 'We have to make sure that the Commission realises that this is not what we want, [...] in the Parliament we were ready to work on it and we are not going to let this happen without a fight," she added. Alessandro Zan also called for new and stronger legislative proposals following this withdrawal as 'giving it up without replacement will waste years and years of political progress'.
