About the Statement:

Dr. Fatima Al-Kaabi, Chairperson of the Union Association for Human Rights, delivered an oral statement during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council under Item 5 – General Debate. The statement addressed the importance of developing national bodies and mechanisms tasked with upholding justice and the rule of law to ensure fair trials and guarantee defendants’ rights. It also highlighted a concerning global decline in rule-of-law indicators, while commending the UAE’s consistent progress in this area at both the regional and international levels.

Content of the Statement:

• The statement praised the Council’s efforts to promote respect for fair trial guarantees and defendants’ rights, urging states to strengthen their judicial and oversight systems.
• It noted that:
  • Justice systems in many countries face structural challenges affecting their integrity and independence.
  • Political and administrative interference poses a direct threat to judicial independence.
• Drawing on global rule-of-law indicators, the statement noted that:
  • More than 75% of countries worldwide have recorded a decline in rule-of-law metrics in recent years.
  • In contrast, the UAE has advanced to:
    • First regionally.
    • 37th globally in the Rule of Law Index issued by the World Justice Project.
• The statement commended the UAE’s efforts to:
  • Develop judicial institutions and strengthen their independence.
  • Ensure transparency in trials and respect for court rulings.
  • Enhance partnerships with civil society to counter disinformation campaigns.
  • Protect the credibility of the judiciary and prevent any baseless attempts to undermine its independence or question its rulings.

Importance of the Statement:

• Supporting judicial independence as a constitutional and human rights principle: The statement reaffirms that justice cannot be achieved without safeguarding judicial independence and preventing executive interference.
• Warning against the global decline in rule of law: The statement highlights a worrying trend of weakening justice institutions globally and calls for reinforcing their role and independence.
• Showcasing the UAE as a progressive model in human rights practices: The statement underscores the UAE’s success in strengthening justice and judicial transparency, presenting it as a regional benchmark.
• Calling for stronger collaboration with civil society and international bodies: It stresses the need for synergy between state institutions and NGOs to combat misinformation and maintain public trust in judicial systems.