Turning a blind eye: Emirati donations to US representatives and the perpetuation of human rights abuses

Over the last five decades, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has rapidly transformed from a sparsely populated desert territory, to the Middle East’s epicenter of business and luxury tourism. However, hidden behind the grandeur of Emirati wealth and prestige, lies an autocratic police state rife with human rights violations including human trafficking, religious persecution and[…]

ADHRB calls on the Council to take action to combat human trafficking in Bahrain and the UAE

On 3 July 2020, ADHRB has delivered an oral intervention at the United Nation Human Rights Council session 44 under item 3 of the general debate, to take action to combat human trafficking in Bahrain and the UAE. Madam Rapporteur Thank you very much for your report which addresses a serious problem of trafficking in[…]

The Plight of Human Rights Defenders in the UAE: Squalid Prison Conditions and Government Reprisals

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered to be one of the most difficult countries in the world for human rights defenders (HRDs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Their ability to operate freely in the country and to engage with the international community in order to advance human rights is constantly obstructed and restricted by[…]

COVID-19: How the Pandemic used by GCC Governments to Double Down on Human Rights Violations

The COVID-19 has infected millions of people around the world and has compelled governments to take extraordinary measures to combat its spread across the population. However, these actions pose a risk of infringing upon international human rights law standards, even if COVID-19 poses a significant threat to public health. Declaring a state of emergency can[…]

Financing Poison at the Top of the Well: How a Culture of Impunity has Allowed the UAE to Continue to Flaunt Grave Human Rights Abuses

Impunity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is endemic, thanks to a pervasive culture of dispensation in the upper echelons of government. The UAE can be described as an autocratic police state, with widespread censorship laws and high surveillance. The ambiguity of its laws allows the leadership to easily justify the quashing of dissent or[…]