It, however, rejected 15 recommendations. Seventeen more recommendations will be further reviewed, according to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Gargash, who headed a 28-member delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Among the recommendations adopted, the UAE committed to inviting an expert on human trafficking to visit the country; strengthen its regulations on living conditions for labourers; take part in a multi-national workshop to exchange views on education; pass laws codifying rights for children; and pass national legislation prohibiting publication-related jail time for journalists.
The delegation also said it would consider establishing an independent National Human Rights Institute to receive inputs from the public and oversee the state of human rights in the country. While the UAE did not specifically outline the reasons for its decisions in Tuesday’s report, it is set to do so during the regular session of the Human Rights Council meeting in March, next year.
In his closing statement, Dr Gargash said the UAE greatly values all the comments and appreciates the review process. “This has served as an opportunity for us to take into account the progress we have made and for them to be recognised by the international community, as well as remind us of the shortcomings and challenges that need our attention,” he said.
Last week, the delegation travelled to Geneva to present the first human rights report, first published in September.
According to the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations, I Gusti Agung Wesaka K Puja, a member of the troika tasked with running the discussion of the UAE’s human rights record, a large number of representatives wanted to speak, both to congratulate and offer recommendations to the delegation.
“For the UAE there was an exceptionally long list of speakers and the president cut the list to 55 or 56 members who were given the opportunity to read their statements. Another four or five were not able to read,” he said.
Ambassador Puja presented the final report in a 30-minute session on Tuesday.
The UAE has long said that it is trying to improve its human rights record while respecting its cultural traditions.
The most common recommendations that were not adopted by the delegation concerned the right of workers to form unions and a ban on the death penalty. The UAE also said it would not adopt policies to promote tolerance based on sexual orientation or repeal corporal punishment laws, as Sweden recommended.
While several countries also applauded the UAE’s work so far on the situation of women, Canada recommended that the country accord men and women equal status under the constitution. This recommendation was not accepted, but the delegation did say it would further consider amending laws on citizenship so that women married to non-nationals could pass on their nationality to their children in the same manner as male nationals married to non-nationals.
Several countries raised concerns that the UAE is not a member of international treaties such as the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The delegation said it would further review membership to those organisations, and Dr Gargash asserted that the country can still meet the goals without being a member.
“Despite the fact that the UAE is not party to some relevant treaties, the constitution has provided several guarantees that reflect the laws and practices of the country,” he said.
Puja said the discussions were positive. “Basically the environment is very good and they are very encouraging. All were addressed in a very diplomatic and polite (manner).”
The recommendations that the delegation accepted will be implemented in four years, after which the UAE will be up for review again.
