UAE Representative addresses Human Rights Council

Geneva - June 20, 2010 (WAM) - UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Obaid Salem Al-Za'abi has welcomed the report submitted by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, Githu Muigai, on his mission to the United Arab Emirates (4-8 October 2009).
Al-Za'abi said the UAE then had expressed appreciation of the constructive dialogue between the Special Rapporteur and the UAE governmental officials (both at the federal and emirates' level), representatives of civil society, including community members, academics and other organisations and individuals.
The UAE Representative made his remarks in a speech before The Human Rights Council held its fourteenth session, held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from May 31st to June 18th.
The UAE, he added, attaches high importance to a set of challenges and issues in its efforts to make more progress on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination. He cited efforts being made by the UAE in areas such as justice, judiciary, religious freedom, women, healthcare, social care, education, labour and trafficking in persons.
He further welcomed what the report noted as legislative and judicial achievements made by the UAE in the area of combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. He said the Special Rapporteur's report noted that the situation had much improved in recent years.
"The UAE understands that it should make more efforts in this regard," he added.
Al-Za'abi said the UAE fully understands the reasons why the report has incorporated recommendations national identity and the granting of citizenship.
"These issues fall within the jurisdiction of relevant states and are related to sovereign rights guaranteed by the international law.... therefore the UAE has a clear vision and conviction that these issues are to be addressed in accordance with its higher interests, national legislations and its system of cultural values." Not all the issues raised in the Special Rapporteur's report are new to the UAE. "Most of them have been addressed by the country during its universal periodic review of human rights in 2008.
He further noted that the UAE Cabinet, on March 22nd 2010, approved the setting up of a permanent committee to follow up on the country's regular human rights reports and related issues which need to be reviewed before the UN Human Rights Council.
The committee was tasked with addressing the UAE's commitments to promote and develop human rights in line with global standards, he explained.
Githu Muigai's report said parts two and three of the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates contain provisions of particular relevance to the mandate of the Special Rapporteur. "These include article 14 which states that "Equality, social justice, ensuring safety and security and equality of opportunity for all citizens shall be the pillars of the society"; article 25 which prescribes that "All persons are equal before the law, and there shall be no discrimination among citizens of the Federation on grounds of origin, ethnicity, religious belief or social status"; and article 40 which affirms that "Foreigners in the Federation enjoy the rights and freedoms recognised in the applicable international covenants, treaties and conventions to which the Federation is a party and incur the corresponding obligations." "In addition, other human rights relating to, inter alia, education, medical care, employment, freedom of movement, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly, prohibition of forced labour, are also guaranteed by the Constitution," said the report. – Emirates News Agency, WAM