UAE National Institute for Human Rights secures international support

The United Arab Emirates gained international support for their efforts to promote harmony and unity through the establishment of their National Institute for Human Rights.

Human rights champions from across the region and beyond hailed the Emirates for their efforts to empower all segments of society and stay true to the values ​​of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father.

President Sheikh Khalifa, who enacted a federal law in August to establish the independent body, appointed his first board of directors this week.

Maqsoud Kruse, who has been appointed chairman, said the organization will strive to improve lives and ensure equality in society.

“The main objective of the National Human Rights Institution is to strengthen human rights in the UAE for all who live in this country,” Kruse told Wam.

“Whether you are a citizen or a resident, we are all equal before the law. “

Issa Rashid Al Arabi, President of the Arab Federation for Human Rights, said the establishment of the NHRI reflects the UAE’s desire to deepen its ties with the global community before assuming its role as a member. of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period 2022-2024. term.

Ala Chalabi, president of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, an entity with consultative capacity at the UN, said the organization would help protect human rights in the United Arab Emirates and in the Middle-East.

Their sentiments were shared by Dr Amjad Shamout, the former head of the Arab League Standing Committee on Human Rights, who is also the chairman of the Al Jisr Al Arabi Center for Human Rights in Jordan.

Ayman Nasri, head of the Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights, another Khalid Al Ajami entity with consultative capacity at the UN, said the formation of the NHRI is a step forward towards strengthening cooperation between local and international human rights. agencies.

“The NHRI will help present the UAE’s human rights case in a transparent manner to the international community and to the permanent members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) in accordance with internationally recognized best practices,” did he declare.

“By establishing the NHRI, political leaders in the UAE reaffirm the importance of empowering specialized national councils as a key tool for international organizations to assess the human rights situation in member states of ONU.

The NHRI also received praise from Khalid Al Ajami, Chairman of the Board of the Kuwait Human Rights Society, who said that the UAE’s humanitarian vision for the future was in line with Sheikh Zayed’s principles.

Mohamed Fazie, the former chairman of the Arab League Human Rights Committee, said the independent body was the culmination of years of hard work by UAE leaders to protect and empower their people.

Dr Abduljabbar Ahmed Al Tayeb, president of the Bahrain Jurists Society, which also has consultative status with the UN, said the decision by UAE leaders to ensure that 50% of NHRI members are women reflected the important role of women in society.

The NHRI will work on all aspects of human rights in the UAE, including the rights of women, children, people with special needs and workers.

It will organize seminars and workshops and produce annual reports to assess the human rights situation in the United Arab Emirates, in partnership with the relevant authorities.

Updated: 23 December 2021, 18:52