Ministry Celebrates Human Rights Day: Elevating the Everyday Importance of Human Dignity

The UAE marked International Human Rights Day with a major event that brought together the Interior Ministry, Foreign Ministry, and the country's Permanent Human Rights Committee. The celebration emphasized how human rights aren't just abstract ideas but daily practices that shape how people and institutions behave.

This year's theme was "Human Rights: The Essence of Our Daily Lives." The message was clear: human rights work happens in everyday interactions, not just in policy papers. The UAE positioned this as part of building stable communities where people can actually live together peacefully.

The event drew senior officials including Brigadier Saeed Abdullah bin Tuwair Al Suwaidi from the Interior Ministry, Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi from Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Jamal Al Musharakh, the UAE's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva. Regional and international organization leaders also attended.

Al Suwaidi spoke about how the UAE sees people as the center of development, not an afterthought. He said protecting human rights creates the foundation for a country that actually works - one that's both prosperous and secure. The government has built what he called an "integrated national system" that puts people first.

But here's what made his comments interesting: he said protecting human rights isn't just the government's job. It requires awareness from society and individual behavior changes. The goal is getting these values into the next generation.

The event showcased the UAE's human rights work both regionally and internationally. Participants talked about the country's commitments under international treaties and agreements. They praised what they called the "Emirati approach" - advanced legislation combined with practices that meet international standards.

The timing matters for the region. As Middle Eastern countries face ongoing challenges around governance and stability, the UAE is trying to show a different model. One where tolerance and coexistence aren't just slogans but actual policy frameworks that work in practice.