EU Parliament’s resolution on UAE’S human rights rejected
Arab Parliament stresses that it is not in the European Parliament’s mandate to assess the human rights records in any Arab country, as there is no legal or political jurisdiction that gives it this right
The Arab Parliament has expressed its complete rejection of the resolution passed by the European Parliament (EP) criticising the UAE’S human rights record.
In a meeting presided over by its Speaker Adel Bin Abdulrahman Al Asoomi, the Arab Parliament stressed that the resolution included factually incorrect information with regards to human rights in the UAE.
In its statement, the Arab Parliament stressed that it is not in the European Parliament’s mandate to assess the human rights records in any Arab country, as there is no legal or political jurisdiction that gives it this right.
“The UAE is one of the leading countries with regards to human rights,” the statement said, adding that there are a number of local institutions responsible for human rights issues in the UAE, in line with international standards recognised and adopted by the United Nations and stipulated in the relevant international conventions.
The Arab Parliament called on the European Parliament to adopt a constructive approach that finds common ground for positive dialogue with parliaments in the Arab countries, in support of the partnership relations between the two sides and the strategic issues of common interest.
The Kingdom of Bahrain has also expressed categorical rejection of a resolution passed by the European Parliament criticising the UAE’S human rights record.
The Bahrain News Agency quoted the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs as stating that the European parliament’s resolution is based on factually incorrect information.
“The resolutions lacks credibility and ignores the UAE’S significant achievements with regards to human development, the protection of human rights, upholding the principles of justice and equality and providing decent life for all UAE nationals and residents in compliance with its constitution and national laws,” said the Foreign Ministry’s statement.
The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that UAE boasts a track record of achievements in ensuring justice, equality and protection of human rights as well as enjoys advanced ranking on global indices, including the Human Development Report issued by the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP).
The Arab Observatory for Human rights (AOHR) affiliated with the Arab Parliament has also categorically rejected the resolution passed by the European Parliament criticising the UAE’S human rights record.
In a statement issued on Monday, AOHR stressed that the resolution included factually incorrect information, and ignores the UAE’S significant achievements with regards to human rights.
The statement read, “The unacceptable allegations included in the European Parliament’s resolution represents an unjustifiable interference in the internal affairs of the UAE, and it is not in the international parliament’s mandate to authorise any regional organisation to assess the human rights records that it’s not under their regional jurisdiction.”
It emphasised that Arab countries, in general, pay great atention to the human rights file, pointing out that they have recently launched pioneering initiatives in this field at the national and Arab levels.
Meanwhile, the Arab-european Centre of Human rights and International Law (AECHRIL) rejected the resolution passed by the European Parliament criticising the UAE’S human rights record, describing it as unfounded and factually incorrect.
In a statement issued on Monday, AECHRIL stressed that the UAE is among the world’s top countries in respecting human rights, adding that the resolution ignores the UAE’S significant achievements with regard to human rights.
Islam El Ghazouly, Chairman of AECHRIL’S Advisory Board, commented, “The UAE treats human rights as a top priority, building on its heritage and constitution, which protects civil freedoms for all, and its legislative system, which promotes justice, equality, tolerance and the protection of rights and supports humanitarian and relief efforts, in line with the principles stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human rights.”