This Association was established pursuant to the Federal Public Interest Associations Act No. 6 of 1974, as amended, to raise awareness about and explain the rights and obligations of individuals in society. It operates within the framework of the law and in cooperation with
government institutions to promote the principles of respect for individual rights, curb human rights violations, safeguard equality and prevent discrimination among members of society based on origin, religious and intellectual beliefs, colour, sex and race. The Association also provides assistance to improve conditions for detainees and prisoners in accordance with international standards and human rights principles, and to help the weak, victims of disasters and persons with special needs.
General Women’s Union
The Women’s Union was established on 27 August 1975. Its members include the women’s associations that founded the Union (the Abu Dhabi Women’s Association, the Dubai Women’s Association, the Sharjah Women’s Union Association, the Ajman “Um Al Mo’mineen” Women’s”
Association, the Umm Al Qaiwain Women’s Association and the Ras Al Khaimah Women’s Association). The Union plays a key role in the formulation of general policy on women, the creation of plans for the promotion of women’s issues in all domains and the establishment of plans and programmes to integrate women into overall development plans and empower them to play their role in life without discrimination.
Jurists’ Association
This Association was established on 25 September 1980 to promote human rights, defend freedoms and the rule of law, raise professional, cultural and social standards among jurists and cooperate with Arab and international human rights associations and foundations whose work has a bearing on the Association’s aims.
Sociologists’ Association
This Association was established in 1980 to promote awareness and social education
throughout society, using all available means to foster social cohesion, stability and integration, in cooperation with government agencies, and helping to provide social welfare and technical
expertise to individuals and groups who need it, in particular persons with disabilities, minors and older persons.
Journalists’ Association
The Journalists’ Association was founded on 30 September 2000 to promote the Emirates press as a medium of expression of the Emirates and a defender of journalists’ rights and interests;
to enable journalists to carry out their mission; and to further the principle of freedom of the press.
The Association promotes the profession and safeguards the rights of all members in the event of arbitrary dismissal, illness or incapacity through recourse to the competent authorities and
cooperation with relevant public and private institutions geared towards the development of the media profession and activities.
The Journalists’ Association was a founding member of the International Press Emblem Campaign in Geneva, Switzerland, and was selected as the regional headquarters for the States of the Gulf, the Middle East and North Africa. The Association joined the International Union of Journalists in 2004.
General Department of Human Rights, Dubai Police General Headquarters
Established on 30 September 1995, the Department has responsibility for protecting human rights, receiving and dealing with complaints from the public about violations of human rights and personal freedoms, providing for the welfare of inmates of correctional and penal institutions, assisting their families and disseminating a human rights culture throughout society.
Dubai Women’s and Children’s Foundation
This Foundation was set up in 2007 to provide direct assistance to victims of violence, including domestic violence, human trafficking and child abuse, by offering them safe houses, training opportunities and rehabilitation services which meet international standards, thus helping to strengthen human rights protection.
National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking
The National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking was established by Federal
Anti-Human Trafficking Act No. 51 of 2006, which updated the State’s legislation on this crucially important issue and underscored the State’s commitment to meeting its international obligations in this domain. In this regard, the State has ratified the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.
In conformity with the Act, the Committee studies and updates legislation on human trafficking issues in order to provide victims with the protection that they need consistent with international standards. It also prepares reports on the measures that the State has taken and follow-up thereon, as well as coordination between the different State organs concerned, such as ministries, government departments, institutions and organizations, and education of institutions and society about these offences.
Social Support Centre, Abu Dhabi police headquarters
The Social Support Centre was set up in 2003. The idea behind its establishment was founded on several principles and values, most importantly the principle of respect for human rights in accordance with the sharia and the rule of law. Under article 16 of the regulation by which it was established, the Centre deals with the following: cases of domestic violence that for which an official complaint does not need to be filed; violence in schools; cases of boys and girls who
run away from home which have not been reported to the police; minor acts of juvenile delinquency which do not constitute criminal offences; disputes and minor disagreements between neighbours that do not need to be the subject of an official complaint.
Zayed Foundation for Charitable Works
This is a charitable foundation which was established in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1992 to carry out charitable work in the State and abroad and, in particular, to help build and support cultural centres, scientific research complexes and public awareness institutions, together with hospitals, clinics, health rehabilitation centres, orphanages, childcare institutions and homes for older persons and persons with disabilities, and also to deliver relief aid to areas stricken by natural and social disasters.
Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates
The Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1983 as a voluntary civil organization pursuing a humanitarian mission of protecting human life, ensuring respect for the humanity of the person and relieving human suffering. The Society operates in coordination and cooperation with the competent and relevant authorities and institutions in the State and abroad, employing a range of methods, of which the most important are the delivery of certain types of health care, the organization and implementation of emergency relief operations that deliver the right kind of assistance, the establishment of charitable projects and action to deal with the social problems confronting widows, orphans, older persons, persons with special needs and the
reunification of families that have been separated. The Society also provides facilities in the State for persons who are ill and wounded or who have fled from disaster-stricken areas, providing them with food, medicine, treatment and psychological support.
Family Development Foundation
The Foundation was established on 10 May 2006 by a decree of the President of the State. It focuses on the implementation of social legislation, recommends whatever changes are necessary to develop it in order to guarantee the rights of women and children and creates sustainable
development programmes for families and women. The Foundation, working in cooperation with local and federal organizations and specialized civil associations, seeks to provide for the
development and welfare of the family in the broad sense of the term, in furtherance of the aims of promoting the well-being of families, women and children. The Foundation creates mechanisms and means for dealing with family issues and coordinating actions to achieve qualitative solidarity in the interests of the family and society. It is also involved in exchanges of information and experiences, and the development and coordination of joint areas of work. It adopts scientific best practices and studies and analyses current and future phenomena, problems and challenges confronting the family, women and children.
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Works The Foundation for Charitable and Humanitarian Works provides assistance to all persons in need in the United Arab Emirates, whether they live in a remote area or an urban environment. It also helps the needy in countries throughout the world. It is an autonomous foundation with the legal capacity to achieve its aims.
4. Efforts of the Emirates to promote and protect human rights