The effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) : towards establishing an effective NHRI in the UAE

Alnaqbi, Basim Hassan Ali Ibrahim Ahmed and Skogly, Sigrun and Kibble, Neil (2018) The effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) : towards establishing an effective NHRI in the UAE. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

This is a case study on establishing a human rights institution in the UAE that would promote and disseminate the culture of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country. The study argues that establishing a strong, politically independent, active and effective national human rights institution in the UAE sooner than later is of paramount importance. The research emphasises that this is the age of human rights and freedoms and a relevant mechanism to safeguard these freedoms should appear in the UAE. Human rights have become the norm and means of measurements of everyday life- business, politics, international relations and cooperations. In a nutshell, the UAE requires more debate, more serious studies on the issue, political dialogue and political consensus on its possible form, functions and a mandate of the new human rights institution. This study suggests that establishing a human rights institution to promote, protect, monitor and consolidate human rights and fundamental freedoms in the UAE is vital. As such organisations become the norm worldwide; the UAE cannot live in isolation. NHRIs are useful institution and can make an important contribution to the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. In this current climate, it becomes increasingly more vital to defend and protect established international human rights standards, challenge abuses of limit maladministration in public office and glitch demographics. Establishment of a new Human Rights institution in the UAE requires and demands a careful balance between traditional values, norms and established principles and changes. Otherwise, the newly found NHRI in the UAE would be prone to suffer from structural problems, functional deficiencies and may lack adequate mechanisms for enforcement of human rights. The time is now ripe to establish a human rights institution in the UAE to tackle the many challenges that the nation is facing in coming years, as highlighted by the international reports issued by international human rights organisations. This study suggests a human rights approach is a crucial tool to improve the current understanding of why the UAE need to establish a National Human Rights Institution and to describe the Human rights situation in its broader context. The challenges of the UAE’s human rights application and the need to consider a balanced approach incorporating a clear human rights perspective will be examined and critically evaluated throughout this thesis.