Legal experts during the launch of the shadow report according to the Universal Periodic Review mechanism

  • The UAE provided a unique model in combating terrorism with legal penalties and rehabilitation centers for extremists
  • Al-Jaber’s selection to take charge of COP28 came to his environmental career and his vision to develop ADNOC in accordance with environmental standards.
  • The Abrahamic Family House is a bridge of communication and cooperation between religions in support of the values of tolerance and brotherhood among people
  • Non-governmental organizations must work objectively and impartially, and refrain from politicizing the human rights’ file

During the “UAE Leadership in Rights” event, which dealt with the launch of the shadow report on caring for human rights in the UAE within the Universal Periodic Review mechanism held yesterday evening – in which 13 international human rights organizations participated – representatives and human rights experts praised the efforts of the UAE and its interaction with international mechanisms and institutions To develop human rights’ care nationally and internationally, stressing the integration of Emirati human rights’ policies which contributed to the launch of many international initiatives and aids to limit climate change, preserve human dignity, prevent extremism, combat terrorism, and spread tolerance among people of different religions and religious beliefs.

The Abrahamic House

Dr. Eric Gozlan Director – International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue – confirmed the pioneering and leadership systems in the United Arab Emirates, and its ability to take initiatives as it took the peace initiative and hosted Pope Francis visit, affirming its constructive role in promoting interfaith dialogue and receiving representatives of all religions and sects, adding that these initiatives indicate and confirm the extent to which the UAE has adopted the principle of tolerance and coexistence, which has become a real thing, whether by spreading the principles of tolerance; or through the establishment of the Abrahamic Family House, which aims to build bridges of communication, coexistence, cooperation and civilized dialogue for the sake of peace and human brotherhood, in contrast to some other countries which could not keep pace with tolerance and peace together, while the UAE was able to achieve the two principles in parallel and can be considered a live example of dialogue and coexistence.

Al Jaber selected to take charge of COP 28

Dr. Christine Meri – Executive Director of Associations and Groups Concerned with Action for Conscience
(CAP LC) European – referred to the extent of the negative media influence and its ability to change facts, like what happened with the UAE when Sultan Al Jaber was appointed to lead the COP 28 conference, and the media attack by linking his position as CEO of ADNOC without considering his terms of reference and the purpose of assigning him to manage ADNOC, where he was assigned to the position of General Manager of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) to change the company’s system and make it more compatible with environmental and climate standards, because Sultan Al Jaber founded the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar and led the UAE to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Meri also showed “Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan” video at the World Government Summit 2023.

In which he emphasized that one of the main reasons for Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber ADNOC Oil Company’s responsibilities is to develop the company in accordance with environmental standards to reduce pollution, given that he has previous experience in protecting the environment by assuming responsibility for some environmental projects in the Emirates, so it was natural for him to be chosen to assume the presidency of the climate summit.

Professor Stefan Eric Brunner, a politician and prominent professor of political science, comparative literature, and German studies at Rutgers University in the United States, confirmed what Dr. Christine Meri put forward about politicized, incorrect and fake media news while we must teach people the importance of distinguishing between true news and false allegations. And the importance of cooperation between the government and private sectors on global, regional and local levels to set rules regarding hate speech, prevent incitement to hatred and confront malicious allegations.

Dr. Manal Masalami – from The European Association for the Defense of Minorities – indicated to the UAE’s efforts and current policies in supporting international and regional initiatives targeting issues related to climate change and supporting efforts aimed at developing the process of protecting the environment from pollution and reducing the use of unclean energy, which made it possess a proven track record in the field of combating climate change, relying on clean and renewable energy sources, as well as launching a strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Rehabilitation Centers

From his side, Andy Vermaut – the Global Council for Public Diplomacy and Community Dialogue -praised the UAE’s participation and support for international efforts to combat terrorism and extremist thinking, as it implemented a fully integrated system to deal with extremist ideology. The matter did not stop only on legal judicial penalties against terrorists or extremists, as the UAE worked to increase and support awareness on the importance of combating extremist ideology, and elaborated to refer those who have finished their sentences to intellectual rehabilitation centers, thus enabling them to successfully re-adapt to society later, which indicates the UAE’s strategy in combating extremism, as these centers enable them to regain awareness and return to living among all parts of society, the UAE decided to confront extremist ideology judicially and intellectually, while preventing any tributaries that would provide financial support to extremism, which represents a strong state strategy aimed at an integrated confrontation of terrorism decisively and truly.

The Credibility and Impartiality of NGO reports

Nigel Goodlich – President of the International Movement for Peace and Coexistence (IMPAC) , Belgium – stressed that non-governmental organizations must show cooperation to objectively enhance their work in defending human rights.

Counselor Ayman Nasri – President of the Arab-European Forum for Dialogue and Human Rights – called on human rights’ organizations for joint cooperation to assess the situation of human rights in the countries concerned objectively and impartially in accordance with international mechanisms and controls without using them as a tool to settle political differences, as some organizations are used as a political pressure, which has led to politicizing The Human Rights file enormously.

Counselor Issa Al-Arabi – President of the Arab Federation for Human Rights – also referred that human rights’ experts monitored 10 shadow reports submitted to the 43rd session of the team concerned with the universal periodic review of the situation of human rights in the UAE. According to experts’ analysis, the results of those reports were shocking, targeting the UAE’s achievements in a destructive manner, and did not achieve a real monitoring of the human rights situation in the UAE, and did not express a real basis for the positive interaction of human rights.

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