United Arab Emirates: Alkarama Briefs UN Delegates on Deteriorating Human Rights Situation

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Alkarama, 30 November 2012

Alkarama was able to express its concerns on the current human rights situation in the United Arab Emirates earlier today, during the pre-session briefing organized by UPR-Info. Attended by numerous representatives of member States to the UN, it was a key opportunity to highlight urgent recommendations and questions that States should be raising during the UAE\'s second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on 28 January 2013.

Key concerns highlighted by Alkarama include the current crackdown on freedom of expression, the persecution of human rights defenders such as Dr Mohamed Abdullah Al-Roken, prominent human rights defender detained in an unknown location since 17 July 2012 and the worrying trend of an increase in torture cases. An up-to-date Briefing Note was also provided to delegations.

As a member of the Human Rights Council as of 2013, the UPR on 28 February 2013 will be an opportunity for the Emirates to demonstrate that it \"uphold[s] the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights\", as it pledged during its election in November 2012.

Alkarama urges States to make recommendations and raise questions of the UAE regarding the following:

1.The unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience and activists including human rights defenders and calls on the authorities of the United Arab

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Emirates to ensure that detainees deemed to have broken the law be brought before a judge, be charged with a crime and be provided with the legal assistance of their choosing.

2.Halt all persecution of human rights defenders and those peacefully expressing their opinions, including online. Immediately release and expunge the convictions of those convicted for expressing their opinion peacefully, and amend the penal code to de-penalise the peaceful expression of opinions (including article 8 and 176). Ensure that Federal Legal Decree No. 5 for 2012 on combating cyber crimes is in full conformity with relevant international norms namely the right to freedom of expression and association.

3. To take all necessary measures to ensure that: torture and ill-treatment ceases in all places of detention; that allegations of torture result in investigations capable of bringing those responsible to account; those found responsible are sanctioned appropriately; reparation be provided to victims of torture; and that statements and confessions obtained through torture and ill-treatment are excluded from legal proceedings.

4. To ensure that all trials meet international fair trial standards, including the full independence of the judiciary, and that all those detained arbitrarily are released as quickly as possible.

5. To end to discrimination against the Bidouns, including in the application of its nationality law.

6.To establish a national human rights institution in full conformity with the Paris Principles.

7.To amend the 2008 law on associations so that it complies with relevant international standards and reinstate the boards of associations which have been removed under this law.

8.To ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocols, the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture, the Convention on Enforced Disappearances and the Rome Statute.

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