Abu Dhabi: The UAE Cabinet Sunday approved the setting up of a permanent committee to follow up on the country's regular human rights reports and related issues which need to be reviewed before the UN Human Rights Council.
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, told Gulf News that the committee will address the UAE's commitments to promote and develop human rights in line with global standards.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the presence of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The committee, which will report to the Foreign Ministry, will consist of representatives from a number of government ministries and bodies.
It is expected that the UAE report will be presented during the UN Human rights council session in June, but Dr Gargash said no date has been fixed.
The Government in October last year welcomed the preliminary findings of a UN human rights expert who toured the UAE.
Githu Muigai, the UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance highlighted the efforts made to improve the situation of workers, including setting up direct channels with the Ministry of Labour, and a system to ensure payment of wages.
Last year, Dr Gargash said a debate was needed on laws that prevent Emirati women from passing their nationality to their children.
