Abu Dhabi, December 10, 2024: The UAE Ministry of Interior and the Permanent Committee for Human Rights (PCHR) in the UAE organized an important event earlier this week, Monday December 9, 2024, marking Human Rights Day, in collaboration with the UN Human Rights Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA). The event highlighted the UAE's commitment to upholding human rights, emphasizing its ongoing efforts to achieve tangible progress in this globally impactful field.

Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on December 10. It commemorates the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was proclaimed as “a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations" to guarantee basic human rights and freedoms. Under the theme ‘Our Rights, Our Future, Now’, this year's Human Rights Day campaign focuses on how human rights are the pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective, and transformative force for good, especially in times of crises.

Celebrating this landmark occasion, the event emphasized the UAE's unparalleled commitment to supporting international human rights frameworks and protecting these rights by all means locally and globally. Driven by the new theme, the event also highlighted the urgent need to adopt a comprehensive approach to the protection and safeguarding of human rights. Protecting human rights in this approach must be carried out collectively in a way that includes all members of society. Protecting human rights requires action by all sectors of society in order to bring about lasting and sustainable change.

On the sidelines of the event and supported by the Ministry of Interior, PCHR launched a nine-month Technical Training program in collaboration with the UN Human Rights Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA). The program is designed to prepare a new pool of human rights experts from across the UAE, bringing together more than 50 representatives from a variety of government entities that are PCHR members.

The UAE has always realized the need for collective action to safeguard human rights. Following this approach, the program will strengthen cooperation by building a skillful and experienced workforce to protect human rights in various sectors. All PCHR member entities have put forward their candidates to participate in the program, underscoring the UAE's commitment to integrating human rights into all aspects of government work.

The event featured inspiring remarks from HE Major General Salem Ali Mubarak Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Support Services at the Ministry of Interior; HE Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development Affairs and International Organizations; Hind Alowais, Director of the PCHR; and the Representative for the UN Human Rights Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA), who spoke via video link, as well as members of the local community.

During his keynote speech, His Excellency Major General Al Shamsi emphasized the importance of the annual celebration of Human Rights Day, which highlights the pivotal role of human rights as a cornerstone for building our developed humane societies. “At the Ministry of Interior, we dedicate this day to raising awareness about human rights and affirming our commitment to protect and promote these rights in all aspects of life. Human Rights Day is a landmark occasion to promote and protect human rights as an essential part of human dignity and existence. This year's event comes under the slogan ‘Our Rights, Our Future, Now,' asserting that human rights go beyond mere theoretical principles or declarations. It is an opportunity to convey messages and call for serious action to fulfill these rights and ensure their sustainability in practical ways on all fronts. Now more than ever, we stress promoting awareness and education about human rights and the protection of fundamental freedoms. We call for concerted efforts to help each other in reinforcing these noble humanitarian principles. Let's work together to shape a future of justice, equality, and equal opportunity for all, without exception.” added HE.

On his part, HE Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development Affairs and International Organizations, said: “Human rights are an integral part of our wise leadership’s vision, a key component of the United Arab Emirates' constitution and an important building block of its foreign policy. Today, we join the international community in celebrating Human Rights Day, recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a core inspiring document and reference point for the international efforts to uphold and consolidate the principles of dignity, equality, non-discrimination, justice and tolerance. Furthermore, we value our outstanding partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), under which we are proud to launch a Technical Training program entitled ‘Qualifying National Human Rights Cadres’. This initiative reflects the UAE's commitment to building a pool of human rights experts capable of effectively fulfilling our obligations.”

Hind Alowais, Director of the PCHR, said: “Today's event underlines our firm commitment to the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as international human rights frameworks. We must maintain our commitment to the universal frameworks that underpin the unity of the international community, especially in times of crises, along with integrating human rights into all aspects of government work.”

“ A key aspect of these endeavors is launching the training program in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which will allow us to build a new generation of human rights experts in the UAE. Together, we will continue to advocate for human rights and uphold these principles across all sectors.” Alowais explained.

During the event, the UAE Ministry of Interior launched an online program for its Human Rights Action Plan, reflecting its digital transformation efforts to ensure development and better outcomes.

After 76 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world has made great strides in upholding and protecting human rights. PCHR, a leading organization of such efforts, aspires today to reaffirm its commitment to upholding those rights. It strives to foster collaborations at all levels of society and work with trusted partners, such as the UAE Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs and the UN Human Rights Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA).