Ministry of Interior UAE Celebrates International Human Rights Day

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior, represented by the Human Rights  -

Photograph Security Media, Ministry of Interior and the Abu Dhabi Police

Department, organized a seminar to commemorate International Human Rights Day. The event, which is celebrated annually on December 10th, was held at the Ministry of Interior’s auditorium. This year’s event took place under the slogan “20 Years of Working for your Rights” and marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Brigadier Ahmed Mohammed Nehkairah, Head of Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Interior attended the seminar along with Mahir Al Obad, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection Affairs at the Ministry of Labor; Brigadier General Dr. Abdullah bin Sahoo Al Suwaidi, Director General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Sharjah; Brigadier Mohammed Khalifa Al Marar, Director General of Undersecretary Diwan at the Ministry of Interior; and a number of other officers from the Ministry of Interior.

In his speech, Brigadier Nehkairah said that the Ministry of Interior is one of the ministries responsible for protecting Human Rights. He said that the ministry is committed to keep up with national and international developments in human rights, and is determined to increase the awareness of human rights within the ministry: “The Ministry of Interior is keen to boosting collaboration with all concerned bodies and authorities. This strategy aims toimplement the best methods and practices that can improve the UAE’s position in both regional and international spheres.

He also added that the ministry is deeply concerned with institutional structures that take care of and maintain human rights and is concerned with protecting victims against any infringements that they might be subjected to. To attain this goal, the ministry established the Human Rights Department and other establishments. The ministry has also inaugurated the Human Rights Committee and the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, in addition to giving extra care to all members of society, especially women, children, people with special needs, the elderly, and crime victims.

Brigadier Nehkairah concluded his speech by thanking the attendees for the efforts they made to bring it success. He also wished them luck and success.

For his part, Brigadier General Dr. Abdullah bin Sahoo Al Suwaidi, Director General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Sharjah, elaborated in his essay on the efforts made to protect house maids in the UAE. He pointed out that the UAE is a role model in the field of human rights, particularly among the labor force. He explained how the country’s higher leadership has offered the labor force all of its attention by issuing legislations and programs that grant workers a respectable life. This strategy was reflected in the UAE 2021 Vision which aims to establish a stable job market that is based on a productive work force that has the ability to strengthen the economy.

He added that the UAE is toiling at various levels to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals, and to improve their living conditions; issues that come at the top of the federal government’s priorities. “The country’s leadership did not only concentrate on the legislative aspect; it has joined efforts with various government and private institutions to achieve this goal, out of the abiding faith in the need to work according to a unified system to protect human rights and support the labor force.

He stated that domestic service workers are subject to direct supervision by the Ministry of Interior, and that the ministry has taken all the necessary measures to improve their conditions. This is in line with the ministry’s objectives of achieving equality, preserving human rights, and protecting domestic service workers in the UAE. To attain these objectives, the ministry has issued a number of procedures to safeguard and aid the laborers. The procedures include, but are not limited to, imposing work contracts, holding specialized training programs, and establishing institutions that educate, raise awareness, and settle disputes.

Brigadier General Abdullah bin Sahoo Al Suwaidi said that the government is making efforts to implement a law designed specifically for domestic workers. The law will mark a milestone in the government’s journey in improving the laws and regulations that aim to create security, stability, and a respectable life for all the people that live in this country.

The bill contains a number of articles that protect the rights of domestic workers. These include articles that will help the organization of labor agencies and define their responsibilities, regulate work conditions and time off. The articles specify what the employers’ responsibilities are and impose inspections on all domestic service agencies, making sure that employers meet certain requirements regarding working conditions and accommodation. The articles also address compensation laws and other rights the workers are entitled to through their contracts.

The new law will complement the government’s procedures in protecting domestic service workers, eliminating bad practices that the workers are sometimes subjected to, and ensures the rights of these workers in their different categories.  Along with this new law, the Emirati judicial system was able to create an exemplary department that specializes in such labor cases. The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) took an unprecedented step and established a judicial section at various judiciary levels that specializes in domestic service-related issues. These courts work within the framework of the UAE’s judicial system, and is meant to apply the principles of specialized laws, ensuring and providing more protection for these workers. ADJD also decided on establishing a specialized committee that will settle domestic service-related disputes. The committees will be responsible for reconciliation and will work under the Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR) Section at the department.

Mahir Al Obad, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection Affairs at the Ministry of Labor, presented an essay on human rights in relation to job market, highlighting the Ministry of Labor’s mission to regulate the job market. He also explained that the ministry is committed to providing basic rights for laborers because the UAE’s leadership believes that workers deserve to have their rights protected. Based on this vision, the government issued Federal Law NO. (8) Of 1980 regulating work conditions. The government issued amendments and executive orders with a view to establish a legal framework that will protect workers. He pointed out that the Emirati legislator granted women and juveniles their rights, and placed these regulations within the framework of law to ensure their protection by issuing standards and principles defined in Federal Law NO. (8) Of 1980. This law preserves the worker’s rights. Through this law, the Emirati legislator defined the conditions of hiring workers, and drafted the laws that prevent juveniles under the age of 15 from working. This law also grants women their rights and prevents them from being hired for dangerous work. It also grants women their maternity leave and designated breastfeeding hours.

Mr. Al Obad emphasized the need to regulate the job market to ensure foreign workers are granted their rights, and emphasized the fact that workers have freedom of choice and are working in a country that has a system of transparency. This was accomplished by cooperating with their home countriesin order to deliver awareness programs that are offered when they leave their countries, and are offered upon arrival in the UAE.

The regulations also limit labor agencies’ activities, which ultimately helps prevent cases of human trafficking. In addition to that, various mechanisms and procedures were developed to issue work permits, eliminating black market visas and makes changing jobs an easier process.

He also explained that the Ministry of Labor has taken several steps to control the job market by granting workers the right to move to a new job after finishing the specified employment period indicated on their contracts, granting the worker the right to moving to a new employer if his current employer does not execute his obligations, and developing a system that protects employees’ salaries.

Mr. Al Obad concluded his presentation by pointing out the international agreements that the UAE has signed with the International Labor Organization.

At the end of the event, Brigadier General Abdullah bin Sahoo Al Suwaidi and Mr. Mahir Al Obad answered the audience’s questions.

Photograph: Security Media, Ministry of Interior and the Abu Dhabi Police

(Brussels)– The European Parliament on October 26, 2012, adopted a resolution on the deteriorating human rights situation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

It is the first time that the European Parliament has formally commented on the UAE’s human rights record, which has worsened significantly in recent months. The Parliament in Strasbourg adopted the resolution despite vigorous lobbying from the UAE. The UAE’s ambassador to the European Union said in a letter to parliament members that the resolution could “needlessly damage EU-UAE relations.”

Since the beginning of the year UAE authorities have detained without charge scores of civil society activists, some of whom have ties to a nonviolent Islamist group, Al-Islah– including prominent human rights lawyers, judges, and student leaders.

The government has also deported and harassed human rights defenders, denied legal assistance to political detainees, and intimidated and deported lawyers seeking to provide detainees with legal assistance. The government also closed the Dubai office of the Washington-based National Democratic Institute and the Abu Dhabi office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a German political foundation.

In its resolution, the European Parliament:

·       “Expresses great concern about assaults, repression and intimidation against human rights defenders, political activists and civil society actors within the United Arab Emirates who peacefully exercise their basic rights to freedom of expression, opinion, and assembly”;

·       “Calls on the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to halt the ongoing crackdowns immediately”;

·       “Calls for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and activists, including human rights defenders”; and

·       “Calls on the authorities of the United Arab Emirates to conduct thorough and impartial investigations into the assaults and public threats made against [prominent human rights defender] Ahmed Mansoor, and all the other cases of harassment and assault”.

In line with the EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, which which was adopted by foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states on June 25, the resolution calls on the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European institutions “to place human rights at the centre of its relations with all third countries, including strategic partners, with special emphasis on the next EU-GCC Ministerial Meeting,” referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Source: Human Rights Watch

Editorial The Guardian, Friday 19 October 2012

Human rights are so essential to Britain’s foreign policy objectives that they are part of our DNA. That is what a Foreign Office spokesman said with a straight face when the foreign affairs select committee rightly criticised the government for refusing to back a boycott of the grand prix in Bahrain. Are they part of Alistair Burt’s DNA? The Middle East minister lavished praise and friendship this week on the United Arab Emirates in a speech to the 4th Abu Dhabi Investment Forum.

The UAE is many things to many people. It is home to 100,000 Britons. It is Britain’s 16th largest export market, with exports last year worth £4.7bn. By the same token, the Emiratis are all over Britain. Think the Emirates Skyline, the London Gateway, or Manchester City.

To some of its own citizens, the UAE presents another face, that of a petrified, authoritarian monarchy which cracks down on peaceful demonstrations, throws 64 political and human rights activists in prison, tortures some, strips others of their citizenship, and carries on in a manner which would make Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak glow with pride. In fact, when Mubarak’s security chief Omar Suleiman fled Egypt, it is no coincidence it was to the UAE that he went.

Its rulers are petrified because what is happening in the rest of the Arab world, and particularly Egypt, is also taking place there. Emirati society is close-knit and homogenous, and lacks the Sunni-Shia schism that plagues Bahrain, or Saudi Arabia. This means hardliners in federal government like Sheikh Khalifa’s half-brother Mohammed bin Zayed cannot blame Iran for trouble at home. They do blame the Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation which the UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan denounced as an organisation encroaching on the sovereignty and integrity of nations. All that is encroaching on this Gulf state is the need for democratic reform. In the UAE’s case it was expressed moderately and non-violently in the form of a petition lodged with the president in March last year, demanding the establishment of an elected national assembly. Only 30% of UAE citizens are allowed to elect only half of the assembly members. The signatories were secular as well as Islamist, but the reaction to it was ferocious. Waves of arrests, detainees held without contact, lawyers arrested, solitary confinement and regular beatings.

What makes the UAE interesting is the cover of respectability Britain continues to give it. If it ignores the wishes of citizens, the UAE is sensitive to its international image, which Mr Burt protects and adorns. Is support for autocracy in the post-Arab spring world part of Britain’s DNA too? Mr Burt is also minister for north Africa , where Muslim Brotherhood governments are supported by Britain.