Abu Dhabi: The UAE, a global leader in socio-economic areas, now pushes towards being the best in the world in human rights too, says Emirati academics.
“My lifetime dream is that the UAE leads the world in human rights and other socio-economic areas too,” Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, professor of political science at the UAE University, told Gulf News yesterday.
Dr Abdullah was in a joyous mood as he received the news that the UAE has emerged first among Arab countries, and 14th globally, in terms of respect for human rights, scoring 71.15 per cent on the International Human Rights Rank Indicator (IHRRI).
“The UAE always wishes to lead the world in all socio-economic areas and now it pushes towards a leading position in the world in basic human rights. We are extremely happy as the UAE took a leading position in human rights,” Dr Abdullah added.
Norway came first on the human rights indicator achieving 90.22 per cent while the US came in the 20th position due to its responsibility for human rights outside its territory, way ahead of Syria which came in the 210th position, according to the list issued on Thursday by the Switzerland-based Global Network for Rights and Development (GNRD).
Dr Abdulrahim Al Shaheen, associate professor of political science and member of the Federal National Council, said the fact that the UAE immediately trailing the United Kingdom in human rights was an incredible fete.
“This human rights rank indicator refutes many other reports by other organisations which attempted to tarnish the image of the UAE in this area,” Dr Al Shaheen said.
Dr Al Shaheen expressed the hope the UAE will be among the top 10 in human rights in the next report.
The GNRD, in a statement, described its IHRRI as the most trustworthy and complete international human rights rank indicator, reflecting live data on the respect for human rights in 216 countries.
Dr Ebtisam Al Katbi, a professor of political science at the UAE University, said the report came at the right time to disprove all misunderstandings and misperceptions about the human rights situation in the UAE.
GNRD acts in cooperation with various international organisations, governments and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to make the outcomes full and veritable.
“More than 2,000 individuals all over the world are collecting and entering information constantly,” it said in its announcement of the index on its website.
The GNRD is an international NGO established in June 2008 with the aim of enhancing and supporting both human rights and development by adopting new strategies and policies for real changes.
