UAE Celebrates International Human Rights Day: Promoting Equality and Dignity Nationwide

The UAE is marking International Human Rights Day on December 10 by highlighting its progress in protecting civil, political, economic, cultural, and social rights across all segments of society. The country has built a comprehensive system of policies and laws designed to ensure human dignity and create a society based on justice and tolerance.

The UAE takes pride in serving three terms on the UN Human Rights Council and has announced its candidacy for the 2028-2030 term. This reflects the country's commitment to the council's role in promoting and protecting human rights globally.

The country operates an interconnected network of national policies and strategies focused on human rights. These include the National Plan on Women, Peace and Security, the National Policy for the Elderly, the Gender Balance Strategy 2026, and the National Policy for Women's Empowerment 2031. The list extends to healthcare policies, family protection measures, food security strategies, and the UAE Centennial 2071 program.

**Worker Protection Takes Center Stage**

The UAE has launched extensive initiatives to protect workers while balancing employer rights. The country introduced employment insurance systems, unemployment insurance, savings programs, wage protection systems, and health insurance coverage.

Since early last year, the UAE began implementing amendments to federal labor law that speed up the resolution of employment complaints in courts. The country also strengthened protections for domestic workers through Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, which guarantees a comprehensive list of rights and benefits for this category while protecting employer rights.

The UAE became the first country in the region to ban midday work. Workers cannot be employed in open areas under direct sunlight from 12:30 PM to 3:00 PM during the period from June 15 to September 15 each year.

**Women and Children Come First**

Protecting and promoting women's and children's rights ranks as a top priority. The UAE's protection umbrella covers all family affairs including health, education, recreation, and rehabilitation services. The goal is to provide opportunities for a dignified life and better future.

The country established a dedicated Ministry of Family with specific responsibilities for implementing initiatives and programs to protect families from violence. The ministry develops and executes policies, strategies, and legislation related to child care, protection, and welfare. This includes securing children's social, psychological, educational, health, and developmental rights.

The UAE issued a National Policy to Promote Women's Health and passed a ministerial decision requiring private joint-stock companies to allocate at least one board seat to women once current board terms expire.

These measures reflect the UAE's systematic approach to human rights protection, moving beyond declarations to create concrete policies that affect daily life for residents and workers across the country.