UAE Delivers Arab Group Speech Before Human Rights Council

UAE delivers Arab Group speech before Human Rights Council

Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, the UAE permanent representative to the UN and Other International Organisations in Geneva, has delivered a speech on behalf of the Arab Group at the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNHRC.

GENEVA, (Pakistan Point News - 07th Jul, 2018) Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, the UAE permanent representative to the UN and Other International Organisations in Geneva, has delivered a speech on behalf of the Arab Group at the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNHRC.

The UAE currently chairs the "Council of the Heads of Arab Missions" in Geneva, under item 10 of the council's agenda on technical assistance and capacity-building.

Ambassador Al Zaabi stressed the Group had taken note of the report on the activities of the UN Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation in the Field of Human Rights, which focused on identifying UNHRC's strategic options on technical assistance and cooperating to help the states implement more effectively the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review, UPR.

The Arab Group commended the efforts made in this area, pointing out that many Arab countries are constantly making important contributions to support technical assistance programmes in the human rights field, which will benefit a large number of countries around the world, including the Arab region.

The Group also noted that agenda item 10 referred to addressing the challenges faced by countries in the domain of human rights, through providing technical assistance and capacity-building, as well as exploring ways to provide more support to help other countries implementing their key human rights commitments.

They also emphasised that there are many obstacles to technical cooperation, foremost is the availability of the necessary resources. The Group believes that the benefit of item 10 is still limited and does not correspond to the broad and eventual results that can be achieved through it.

The Group highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperative efforts and sharing best practices among countries and other stakeholders, which would lead to the implementation of the recommendations during the UPR. It will also strengthen national systems for the protection of human rights, as well as create a favourable environment for addressing the root causes of human rights violations.