Key Speakers:

• Dr. Fatima Khalifa Al Kaabi – President, UAHR, UAE.
• Dr. Saba Haddad – Representative to the UN, Bahá’í International Community, Geneva.
• Dr. Saida Agrebi – Former Pan African Parliamentarian, President and CEO of OISAT/WASAT International, and HCDAF Member Diaspora Paris 2025.
• Dr. Victor Koshelev – International Center for Trade and Development, Main Representative at the UN.
• Karla Khijoyan – Programme Executive for the Middle East, World Council of Churches.

Content of the Symposium:

The symposium examined the historical and institutional evolution of human rights in the UAE, presenting a comprehensive overview of the legal and institutional frameworks established by the country to safeguard fundamental freedoms and rights.

Key Discussion Points:

• The beginnings and development of institutional human rights work in the UAE.
• Alignment of national legislation with international standards, particularly in justice, equality, and empowerment of women, children, and people of determination.
• Governmental and community initiatives promoting tolerance, coexistence, and intercultural peace.
• The UAE’s leading role in supporting UN efforts and providing practical models in social justice, labor protection, women’s rights, education, and health.
• Emphasizing the concept of human rights leadership that goes beyond commitment to conventions to contributing to the development of global best practices, as reflected in international indicators.

Importance of the Symposium:

The symposium offered an analytical reading of the UAE’s experience as a successful developmental and humanitarian model in the region, blending legal modernity with commitment to shared values. It shed light on the country’s integrated institutional structure for protecting human rights, especially for vulnerable groups, based on social justice, transparency, and the rule of law.

Attendance:

The symposium was attended by numerous representatives of international civil society, along with journalists and human rights observers.

Key Recommendations:

• Calling for exchange of expertise among countries in developing national human rights institutions.
• Supporting intercultural dialogue initiatives as pathways to global peace.
• Highlighting the UAE’s successful social empowerment practices at UN forums.
• Promoting adoption of the UAE model for developing national indicators to measure progress in fundamental human rights.