About the statement:

Dr. Fatima Al-Kaabi, President of the UAHR, delivered an oral statement during the interactive dialogue under Agenda Item 3, commenting on the report of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. In her statement, she addressed the importance of protecting the independence of the judiciary and strengthening justice guarantees, while praising the UAE’s experience in maintaining the independence of the judiciary and its high-ranking positions globally in rule of law indicators.

Content of the statement:

• Dr. Al-Kaabi expressed appreciation for the efforts of the Special Rapporteur and the Human Rights Council in supporting the independence of the judiciary, and emphasized that these efforts contribute to ensuring fair trials, enhancing transparency, and protecting fundamental rights.
• She stressed the need to:
  • Support and strengthen the mandate of the Special Rapporteur.
  • Prevent interference in the affairs of judges and lawyers.
  • Provide legal safeguards that protect them from threats, defamation, and political influence.
• She pointed to the serious global decline in rule of law indicators, noting a 78% drop in international scores since 2016, which she described as alarming and requiring urgent global action.
• She commended the UAE’s efforts, highlighting its top regional ranking and 37th global position in the 2023 World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, thanks to its institutional improvements and commitment to the highest standards of justice.

Importance of the statement:

• Direct support for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur and enhancing the credibility of the Council: The statement highlighted the importance of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate as a central tool for ensuring justice and judicial independence, and urged countries to honor Council’s decisions.
• Highlighting the need for institutional protection for judges and lawyers: The statement called for comprehensive protection for justice-system professionals from political pressures and interventions that threaten their independence.
• Warning of a global decline in rule of law: The statement served as an early warning about the sharp decline in rule of law indicators, which calls for genuine international commitment to stop this erosion of human rights.
• Promoting the UAE as a model for judicial independence: The statement reinforced the image of the UAE as a country of law and institutions, and encouraged other countries to benefit from its advanced model of judicial independence.