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UN told of UAE’s progress on enhancing human rights

Jan 29, 2013 Geneva: The UAE has taken giant strides toward improving human rights in the past four years and the Government will continue to be transparent in its efforts, the United Nations was told yesterday. “While we recognise that the UAE will continually need to review and enhance its efforts to protect human rights, the level of protection of human rights already achieved represents a significant success,” said Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and FNC Affairs. Dr Gargash made his comments during a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, the state news agency Wam reported last night.

“We are facing challenges”. I will not stand here in front of you, and say that we have a spotless record in the UAE. Indeed, I am not aware of any country that does. I can assure you that the UAE government takes concerns of any possible violation of human rights very seriously and that we are constantly working on strengthening our capacity to respond to these.” Dr Gargash said.

After the last review, the UAE adopted 36 out of 74 human-rights recommendations made by the council. It rejected some others, including calls to abolish the death penalty, extend freedom of assembly and association, and grant migrant workers more rights. It also made nine voluntary pledges of its own. Dr Gargash said more than 90 per cent of those policies were implemented.

During an interactive session with other member states, many of the questions posed during the presentation centred on the UAE’s record on extending rights to labourers and migrant workers.

“This is a matter of national interest, as well as a human rights issue, as foreign workers are our development partners and their contribution to the growth of our economy is invaluable. We are fully committed to the goal of strengthening the rights of workers so that they can enjoy opportunity in the UAE, free of any form of abuse or exploitation.” “The UAE has an extensive strategy for safeguarding the rights of workers and improving their work and living conditions,” Dr Gargash concluded.

The Human Rights Council will present the UAE with a formal set of recommendations on how to further promote human rights. The UAE will then be expected to study those recommendations and say which of the recommendations it has chosen to accept and how it intends to implement them.
Source: The Emirates News Agency, (WAM)

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UAE Human Rights Forum:
UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review – Visit UAE Forum