UAE: Strong Ally of the West with a Turbulent Torture Record

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has an extensive history of using torture against those they percieve as a threat; this ‘threat’ most commonly includes human rights defenders, political opposition, religious figures, and journalists. On 19 July 2012, the UAE acceded to the United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT), which details obligations that the government[…]

UAE: UN Experts Raise Serious Concerns over Conditions of Detention

March 19 – On March 17 2020, United Nations (UN) human rights experts urged the United Arab Emirates to conduct an investigation into, and reform prisons where conditions of detention are said to amount to “torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. The UN experts are quoted saying: the “UAE has the responsibility[…]

At HRC 43, Violations of Privacy Rights in the UAE

Today, an oral intervention was delivered at the 43rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, under Item 3 in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy. The intervention focused on the negative impact of cyber surveillance on privacy rights in the United Arab Emirates. Please continue reading for[…]

UAE: Freedom of expression must be upheld at all times, not only tolerated during Hay Festival Abu Dhabi

Open Letter from Over 50 NGOs and Individuals to the UAE authorities 24 February 2020- As the Hay Festival Abu Dhabi opens on 25-28 February 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we the undersigned call on the Emirati authorities to demonstrate their respect for the right to freedom of expression by freeing all human[…]

UN Special Procedures Publish Allegation Letter to United Arab Emirates Addressing Detention of Guillaume Pernot

On 8 August 2019, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants published an allegation letter to the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing concern for Guillaume Pernot (aka Yannick Dacheville), who was allegedly arrested, arbitrarily detained, and tortured. According to the allegation letter,[…]