About the Statement:

Dr. Fatima Al-Kaabi, Chairperson of the Union Association for Human Rights, delivered an oral statement before the UN Human Rights Council during its 58th session under Item 3, which addresses the promotion and protection of all human rights, including civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The statement focused on the right to privacy and data protection in light of mounting digital challenges, highlighting the UAE’s legislative and regulatory efforts in this field and its commitment to relevant international standards.

Content of the Statement:

• Welcoming the Council’s efforts: The speaker expressed appreciation for the Human Rights Council’s initiatives to safeguard the right to privacy, emphasizing its fundamental role in enabling other rights such as freedom of expression and public participation.
• Digital challenges: The statement underscored that privacy is increasingly at risk due to the expansion of surveillance technologies and artificial intelligence, alongside the widespread use of the internet and data exchange, creating complex legal and ethical challenges in the digital era.
• Calling for stronger protection: The statement stressed the need for the Council to enhance international measures to ensure privacy protection and to develop mechanisms that guarantee respect for this right amid rapid technological change.
• Commending the UAE’s experience: The statement highlighted the UAE’s compliance with international legal norms through:
  • Issuing Federal Law Decree No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection.
  • Establishing the UAE Data Office under Federal Law No. 44 of 2021.
  • Ensuring that data collection and processing are subject to the rule of law, guaranteeing full protection of personal data.

Importance of the Statement:

• Raising global awareness of the right to privacy: The statement spotlighted the increasing threats to this right in the digital age, reaffirming the need for technological advancements to go hand in hand with robust human rights safeguards.
• Strengthening the role of national legislation within the international rights framework: The statement presented the UAE’s approach as a model for balancing technological progress with legal protection of individual rights, enhancing its standing before the global community.
• Calling on the international community to develop a global legal framework: The statement urged harmonization of international legislation with digital advancements and coordination among UN bodies to adopt policies that ensure respect for privacy in the context of the technological revolution.
• Reaffirming the importance of the rule of law in the digital environment: The statement emphasized that privacy can only be guaranteed through comprehensive legal frameworks overseen by competent authorities and aligned with the highest standards of legal governance and transparency.