About the Statement

A written statement was issued by the Union Association for Human Rights (UAHR), in cooperation with a consultative organization, under document number A/HRC/55/NGO/119. The statement, submitted to the Human Rights Council at its 55th session (February–April 2024), focuses on strengthening international efforts to eliminate racial discrimination. It highlights the United Arab Emirates as a leading model in combating racism and hate speech through progressive national legislation and global initiatives it has championed.

General Background

• The statement notes that despite the passage of 75 years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the scale of violations related to racial discrimination continues to rise.
• It expresses concern over the worsening plight of civilians around the world due to discrimination and emphasizes that the absence of justice and equality undermines global efforts to build a world free of racism.

Call to Activate the Role of the Human Rights Council:

The statement urges the Council to intensify its efforts and enhance its mechanisms to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination, intolerance, and hate, particularly in areas such as:

• Migration and asylum.
• The suffering of communities persecuted on religious or ethnic grounds.
• Government policies that entrench discrimination.

Commending the Experience of the United Arab Emirates

The statement highlights the UAE’s efforts in combating racial discrimination, including:

• Federal Law No. 2 of 2015, which:
  • Criminalizes discrimination based on race, religion, sect, origin, or gender.
  • Prohibits insult toward religions and beliefs.
  • Criminalizes any words, actions, or behavior that incite discrimination or hatred.
• Global Humanitarian Initiatives:
  • The United Nations’ adoption of the International Day of Human Fraternity on February 4 each year.
  • Signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
  • Launch of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
• UAE Public Policies:
  • Promoting a culture of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among more than 200 nationalities residing in the country.
  • Enacting legislation that prohibits all forms of hate speech and racism.
  • Supporting interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

Key Recommendations

• Calling for an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the global state of racial discrimination and propose practical solutions.
• Disseminating best international practices and drawing on the experiences of pioneering countries, such as the UAE, in combating racial, religious, and cultural discrimination.
• Protecting refugees and migrants, especially from poorer African countries, from racial discrimination, xenophobia, and rejection of different cultures and religions.

Significance of the Statement

• The statement reaffirms the international community’s commitment to implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
• It highlights racial discrimination as one of the most serious challenges to social peace and global justice.
• It showcases the UAE as a successful model in enacting legislation and launching initiatives that promote the values of human fraternity and global peace.