UAE Presents Second National Report on Human Rights at Arab League Meeting

By Abdul Rehman · January 29, 2025 · Updated February 7, 2025 · 3 min read

Cairo: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has presented its second national report on the Arab Charter on Human Rights during the 27th session of the Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

UAE Highlights Progress in Human Rights

A high-level delegation from federal and local government entities, along with civil society organizations, represented the UAE at the meeting. Abdul Rahman Murad Al Balushi, Assistant Under-Secretary for International Cooperation and Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Justice, delivered the UAE’s statement, highlighting significant progress in the country’s human rights policies since its first report in October 2019.

Over the past four years, the UAE has introduced several national policies and strategies to protect and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, including:

National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security
National Policy for Senior Citizens
UAE Gender Balance Council Strategy 2026
National Policy for Empowerment of Emirati Women – 2031
National Family Protection Policy
National Food Security Strategy 2051
UAE Centennial 2071

Advancements in Healthcare and Education

Al Balushi emphasized the UAE’s strong healthcare system, which follows global best practices and ranks among the top 10 globally in competitiveness reports. According to the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, the UAE was ranked second worldwide in healthcare satisfaction for 2023 and 2024.

Education remains a top priority, with initiatives such as:

Emirati School Forum
Introduction of “Generations Schools”
National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement
National Strategy for Higher Education 2030

Focus on Family Protection and Social Stability

The UAE has placed family protection at the core of its social policies. 2025 has been declared the “Year of Community” to strengthen social cohesion. Key steps include:

Federal Decree-Law No. 13 of 2024 on Family Violence Protection
Establishment of the Ministry of Family (December 2024)

These initiatives aim to enhance family stability and reduce risks of family breakdown.

Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

The UAE continues to lead in women’s empowerment, with Emirati women holding key leadership roles in politics, governance, and executive positions. The country ranked:

7th globally
1st in the region

in the 2024 Gender Equality Index, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Legal Reforms and Tolerance Initiatives

The UAE has introduced several legal reforms, including:

New decrees on criminal procedures
Use of technology in litigation
Digital transaction systems for personal status matters

Additionally, tolerance remains a key principle in the UAE’s policies. The country played a major role in adopting UN Security Council Resolution 2686 during its presidency in June 2023, which addressed hate speech, extremism, and international security.

Commitment to the Arab Charter on Human Rights

Al Balushi reaffirmed the UAE’s support for the Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee and commended its role in strengthening Arab human rights efforts. He emphasized the UAE’s commitment to reviewing and implementing the provisions of the Arab Human Rights Strategy within the framework of the Arab League.

Stay updated for more insights on the UAE’s human rights initiatives! 🚀