Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the President of the UAE, has issued a law to establish the "National Human Rights Authority," according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM). According to the law, the authority will be independent, based in the capital, Abu Dhabi, and may establish branches and offices in other emirates. It will have financial and administrative independence in carrying out its tasks, activities, and responsibilities, and aims to promote and protect human rights and freedoms in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, current laws and regulations in the country, and relevant international charters, pacts, and agreements.
The authority's responsibilities and tasks include participating with authorities and relevant entities in developing a national action plan to promote and protect human rights in the country, proposing mechanisms for its implementation, and working to disseminate a culture of human rights and raise awareness among community members through seminars, conferences, and discussion sessions related to human rights. Additionally, it will provide proposals, recommendations, and advice to authorities and relevant entities, monitor any violations or breaches of human rights and verify their validity, report them to the competent authorities, and participate in international and regional forums concerned with human rights.
The authority will have a Board of Trustees consisting of at least 11 members, including the president, with at least half of the members being full-time. The duration of the board's membership is four years, renewable once, according to the law.
