About the Statement:

The Union Association for Human Rights delivered an oral statement before the Human Rights Council during its 57th session under Item 8 (General Debate on the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action). The statement underscored the need to intensify efforts to protect women’s rights, with a particular call to recognize economic violence against women as a serious violation and to activate international mechanisms to address it. It also praised the UAE’s experience in issuing the National Policy for Empowerment of Emirati Women 2023–2031 as a leading regional model.

Content of the Statement:

• The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms, notably the Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Girls, to advancing the protection of women’s rights and ensuring their full participation in all aspects of life.
• It highlighted the widespread challenges and violations women still face in many countries, particularly economic violence, which remains undefined within UN frameworks, calling for a clear legal definition and the activation of monitoring and accountability tools.
• The statement stressed the importance of developing legislative frameworks and national policies to protect women economically and address gaps that hinder economic justice for women.
• It commended the UAE’s National Policy for Empowerment of Emirati Women 2023–2031, launched by the Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, as a milestone in ensuring rights, enhancing women’s participation in vital sectors, and providing legal protection from all forms of violence, including economic violence.

Importance of the Statement:

• Shedding light on a new form of violence against women (economic violence): addressing this issue is relatively rare on international platforms, which gives the statement special significance in pushing for its recognition and legal definition at the global level.
• Calling for expanding the mandates of UN mechanisms: the statement calls for activating relevant UN mechanisms to specifically address this type of violation, reflecting a reform-oriented and progressive approach to international human rights work.
• Appreciating the UAE’s pioneering national approach to women’s empowerment: highlighting the UAE’s experience demonstrates the transformative power of national policies when backed by clear leadership vision and long-term strategies.
• Reinforcing the role of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action: the statement strengthens international actors’ commitment to one of the core pillars of the global human rights system by linking women’s issues to the fundamental principles of Vienna.