His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, issued Federal Law No. 12 of 2021, establishing an independent body called the "National Human Rights Institution". The Institution aims to promote and protect human rights and freedoms in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and the laws and legislation enforced in the state and the relevant international charters, covenants, and agreements.

In its news release published today, the Emirates News Agency stated that the UAE's establishment of this vital mechanism comes within its keenness to strengthen and develop its institutional structure concerned with human rights. This will contribute to enhancing the status of the state and highlighting its roles in the field of human rights internationally. It also mentioned that the state was keen when preparing the draft law on establishing the Institution to be acquainted with the best international practices and countries' experiences with similar bodies. The state was eager to seek the opinion and advice of a number of global and UN expertise. The most important was its cooperation with the Office of the High Institutioner for Human Rights, which graciously provided technical assistance and legal advice regarding the draft law, the articles of which are consistent with the Paris Principles for National Human Rights Institutions.

According to the news reported by the agency, the Institution's headquarters will be based in the capital, Abu Dhabi, and It may open branches in other emirates as well. The Institution enjoys an independent legal personality and financial and administrative independence in carrying out its tasks. The tasks include participating with competent parties and authorities in developing a national plan of action to promote and protect human rights in the country, proposing a mechanism for implementation and working to spread the culture of human rights, educating the members of the community about it along with holding seminars and discussion panels related to human rights. It also includes submitting proposals, recommendations, and advice to the competent authorities in everything that would protect and promote human rights and following up on them ensuring the suitability of legislation and laws to international charters, covenants, and agreements on human rights. In addition to monitoring any violations of human rights, verifying their validity, and reporting them to the competent authorities, participating in international and regional forums concerned with human rights is also an important task.

It should be noted that the national human rights institutions established under the Paris Principles approved in 1993 consider these bodies as official Institutions established by the states and have a legal mandate to promote and protect human rights. It follows the orientation of the 1993 Paris Principles for National Human Rights Institutions in performing its tasks. 

WAM

WAM/Lina ibrahim/Rola Alghoul