UAE mulls human rights institution

RIGHTS MOVE: The rights of labourers in the UAE is one of the government's priorities. (Getty Images)

The UAE is considering establishing a human rights institution after recommendations from a United Nations review of the country’s rights record.

About three-quarters of the recommendations that came out of the UAE’s review before the Geneva-based Human Rights Council were accepted or are being seriously considered, according to a report by news agency WAM.

The wide-ranging recommendations include issues such as improving the rights of temporary contractual workers, equality between men and women, enhancing the infrastructure in remote areas, furthering rights pertaining to protection of children and freedom of the press.

The UAE rights review came as part of a new process under which human rights conditions in all 192 UN member states are to be examined every four years.

Three countries – Indonesia, Cameroon and Argentina – were appointed by the council to act as a troika of rapporteurs on the process.

The UAE has indicated that a few of the recommendations cannot be adopted because of several legal, social and cultural issues.

In his closing statement, the head of the UAE delegation, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, said: "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 in future."

The minister assured the Human Rights Council that the UAE would continue communicating with the international community as part of its quest to further improve its performance.

The final report is scheduled to be adopted by the Human Rights Council in April 2009.

During the review last week, Gargash outlined labour issues, political participation and women’s rights as the three most critical human rights issues for the UAE.

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