Esraa Al-Amiri, member of the Board of Trustees of the Union Association for Human Rights (UAHR), emphasized in her address to the Association that the rights of persons with disability face increasing global challenges, despite international conventions. About 1.3 billion people in the world live with a disability, and wide gaps still exist in their access to education, employment, healthcare, and political participation, especially during times of crisis. She noted that reports from 2025 confirm that most sustainable development indicators related to disability are off track, with disproportionately high risks of poverty, violence, and marginalization.

In this context, Al-Amiri highlighted the UAE as a pioneering model in adopting a comprehensive human rights approach rooted in dignity and empowerment. Since joining the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010, the UAE has enacted groundbreaking legislation, most notably Federal Law No. 29 of 2006 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The country has also adopted national integration policies and strategies, established monitoring institutions and mechanisms, ensured access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, provided psychosocial support, and celebrated achievements through national awards. In addition, the UAE has made effective regional and international contributions to promoting and protecting the rights of people of determination.

Al-Amiri concluded her remarks by underscoring the importance of encouraging countries to review their legislative frameworks in line with international agreements and to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring and documenting violations, particularly in conflict zones. She also highlighted the need to invest in technology and artificial intelligence to advance the integration of persons with disabilities, drawing on the UAE’s leading experience in this field.