Geneva: The United Arab Emirates has renewed its commitment to empowering women, consolidating gender equality, and protecting the rights of children. This declaration was made by Jamal Al Musharakh, the UAE Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva, during the 61st session of the Human Rights Council currently taking place in Geneva.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Musharakh emphasized that the UAE continues to promote human rights, empower women, and strengthen their leadership roles, while also consolidating gender equality to ensure the full protection of women's and girls' rights and support the safeguarding of children's rights. In alignment with this commitment, the UAE anticipates its membership in the Human Rights Council for the 2028-2030 term.
Al Musharakh added that the UAE affirms the protection of human rights as a collective responsibility, necessitating multilateral action based on dialogue and mutual respect to confront extremist ideology and hate speech. He highlighted the importance of adopting effective measures, particularly given the escalating crises.
He also reiterated the UAE's commitment to supporting the Palestinian people in Gaza amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis, announcing additional support of US$1.2 billion for Gaza, which positions the UAE as the leading donor to the region.
Furthermore, Al Musharakh outlined the UAE's ongoing pursuit of sincere and effective humanitarian diplomacy. This includes successive mediation efforts that have led to successful prisoner exchange operations between Russia and Ukraine, reinforcing the UAE's reputation as a trusted mediator among all parties involved.
The ambassador concluded by addressing the international efforts to resolve the civil war in Sudan. He noted that one of the warring parties continues to undermine these initiatives by leveling false accusations against the UAE and United Nations mechanisms, despite the efforts of the Quartet.