The delegation, led by Mohammed Al Nassour, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department of the OHCHR, made this statement while meeting Brigadier Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, Director-General of the Dubai Police Human Rights Department, to explore the country?s human rights efforts.

During the meeting, Brigadier Al Murr said that the UAE is a leading model for the protection of human rights while highlighting its key role in combatting humanitarian crimes and its keenness to fully adopt the principles of justice, equality and respect for human rights.

The UAE, since its establishment, has sought to build a community-based on justice, security and tolerance in an environment with many cultures and faiths, he said in conclusion. /WAM

The Ambassador of The European Union Delegation to the UAE, Andrea Matteo Fontana, presented the prize to the Director General of the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, Afra Al Basti, at an award ceremony in Al Fahidi Historic District in Dubai today. The Higher Committee for the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi will receive their 2019 prize in 2020.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Fontana and Afra Al Basti gave speeches. A short film about the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children was screened after that and the event ended with the presentation of the trophy to the foundation.

Ambassador Andrea Matteo Fontana said:”I am proud that this honourable cause has been recognised and hope that the work of the Foundation will be an outstanding example for others to follow. I cannot hide that I am thrilled the Chaillot Prize has finally come to the UAE and is being awarded to such worthy and deserving causes. This epitomises that 2019 is truly the “Year of Tolerance”.

”The values of respect for human dignity and human rights are part of the EU’s DNA, giving us a sense of purpose and direction. Promoting and defending human rights is at the heart of our external policy. We do that with the hope of creating a better, more just world,” Andrea Fontana added.

”At a time of increased cooperation between the EU and the UAE ? we just had our first senior officials meeting in Brussels three weeks ago under the EU-UAE Cooperation Arrangement, we are standing ready to develop further partnerships in fostering a society that empowers the youth and women and tackles human rights issues of common concern such as human trafficking,” Andrea Fontana further added.

Afra Al Basti said: “We are proud to win the “Chaillot” Prize 2019 for the promotion of human rights from the European Union, which we consider also a tribute to the whole humanitarian and charitable system in the UAE, which would not have achieved any tangible success without the great care and support that this system received from the leadership and the government of the UAE.”

”Humanitarian and charitable work is a feature of the UAE people and state, as millions of people from more than 200 different nationalities, including different religions, races and cultures, have chosen to live on its land, in harmony, love and peace, and winning the “Chaillot” prize today is a new motivation for us to do more in the field of human rights and philanthropy,” she added.

The awarding ceremony took place on this day to mark the 71st anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Several EU Ambassadors and other members of the Diplomatic Corps and heads of different NGOs based in the UAE attended the event.

The Chaillot Prize is given to civil society organisations and public or private institutions for actions, campaigns and projects which support human rights awareness, promotion and protection in the GCC region. The Prize is named after the Palais de Chaillot in Paris where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted on 10 December 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly.

Due to the exceptional work by both entities ? the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children and the Higher Committee for the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, the prize was awarded to both organisations.

The Dubai Foundation for Women and Children is given the award for its tireless efforts in protecting and supporting women and children victims of domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking. The organisation of the Special Olympics World Games was a ground-breaking event promoting a spirit of inclusion and tolerance by raising awareness for the people of determination and those of special needs. /WAM

According to the MoU, medical examinations will be provided to victims and more projects will be launched in order to boost UAE reputation in combating human trafficking and providing shelter, care and rehabilitation services to the victims.

Brigadier Mohammad Suhail Al-Rashdi, Director of the Criminal Security Sector at Abu Dhabi Police, and Sarah Ibrahim Shuhail, Executive Director of Ewaa shelters, signed the MoU. The signing ceremony was attended by Brigadier General Imran Ahmed Al-Mazrouei, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police, and Major Hamad Heyadh Al-Ketbi, Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Section. (WAM)

This meeting comes within the framework of the national strategy launched by Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women’s Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for the Empowerment and Entrepreneurship of Women in the UAE, which provides a general frame of reference for all government institutions (federal and local). The private sector and civil society institutions in the development of plans and programs of action, in order to provide a decent life for women to make them empowered, entrepreneurial, initiative, participating in all areas of sustainable development process, so as to achieve the quality of life for them.

During the meeting, they discussed how to prepare and qualify women police officers in the Ministry of Interior to deal with victims of human trafficking, and raise their specialized level in this field, in order to prepare them and qualify them to be certified experts from the women’s police to investigate cases of human trafficking.

Colonel Al Zaabi stressed the importance of spreading the culture of combating human trafficking, preparing a qualified female element to deal with victims of human trafficking, which requires scientific and practical qualifications in the elements that are selected=”true” as conditions and controls to meet the victims of human trafficking in accordance with the security measures and procedures adopted by the Ministry in the field of combating these trafficking. Crimes, in accordance with Federal Law No. 51 of 2006 and its recent amendments of 2015, the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, as well as international standards in this regard.

Major Amn Al Balushi said this approach comes within the Ministry of Interior’s strategy to empower Emirati women, especially those working in the ministry, and to provide them with the opportunity to participate in various areas of security and police work, and develop the spirit of leadership and responsibility and enhance the status of Emirati women in regional and international forums. /WAM 

Led by Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Human Rights and International Law, the UAE delegation discussed its efforts towards promoting human rights and enshrining them in law.
During the second day of the Committee meeting, Al Jarman reviewed the UAE?s achievements in the areas of empowering women and protecting the rights of children, people of determination, senior citizens, and employees. In addition, efforts to combat human trafficking and promote tolerance were addressed.
Al Jarman then pointed to the results of the fourth Federal National Council elections held in the UAE earlier this month, with more than 337,000 voters taking part in electing youth candidates, who made up more than 61 percent of representatives nationwide. He pointed out that these elections constitute an important milestone in the political empowerment programme launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005, which aims to strengthen the role of the Federal National Council and empower UAE citizens to contribute to the nation?s development.
The Assistant Minister also discussed Decree No. 01 of 2019, issued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, to raise the representation of women in the Federal National Council to 50 percent during its fourth session in a historic move that promotes the political empowerment of women and enhances their role in decision-making.
During two discussion sessions between the UAE delegation and members of the Arab Human Rights Commission, UAE representatives responded to questions asked by the Committee on the UAE?s efforts towards implementing articles of the Arab Charter for Human Rights at the national level. Committee members praised the UAE?s active participation in the debate, in addition to its general commitment to promoting and protecting human rights.
The two sessions were followed by a joint press conference between Al Jarman and Mohammed Al-Dhahi, Advisor and Chairman of the Arab Human Rights Commission.
The UAE was one of the first countries to ratify the Arab Charter of Human Rights in 2006, and its initial report to the Arab Human Rights Commission was reviewed in 2013.
The UAE is keen to strengthen its cooperation with regional human rights mechanisms, including the Charter Committee, and seeks to benefit from dialogue with the Committee to exchange best practices

in the field of human rights. WAM

Sarah Shuhail, Executive Director of Ewaa, welcomed the delegation to the meeting and discussed the key topics raised by the Directorate, most notably the analytical statistics-based number of cases involving women and children referred to Ewaa and Abu Dhabi Police GHQ by the Public Prosecution and competent court.

Furthermore, the meeting touched upon prospects of cooperation and coordination in combating human trafficking and providing care to victims.

Ewaa suggested to offer Ewaa employees the opportunity to benefit from the Directorate?s training plans, programs and workshops ? a proposal warmly welcomed by the Directorate, affirming coordination between the two parties regarding 2020 plans and programs. The parties looked into ways of expertise sharing through exchanging relevant reports, information and legal studies by Ewaa, the UN and other relevant organizations? reports.

The meeting was concluded by the Directorate?s delegation highly appreciating Ewaa?s efforts, and looking forward for further cooperation and communication. (Al-Ittihad newspaper)

After meeting Sarah Shuhail, Executive Director of Ewaa shelters and other Ewaa? members, the parties had talks about victims, places of reception, the procedures followed from reception onwards, medical examinations, specific social and psychological schemes developed, and selecting the appropriate educational program for each victim.

The Thai delegation hailed Ewaa?s exemplary work. The visit was concluded with the exchange of souvenirs.