The Permanent Committee for Human Rights organizes workshop on developing national plans to implement recommendations of the international human rights mechanisms

The Permanent Committee for Human Rights (PCHR) in the UAE has organized a three-day workshop in collaboration with the regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Beirut, on the role of National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRFs), and mechanisms for developing national plans to implement the recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms. 

Hind Alowais, Director of PCHR, launched the workshop, organized in collaboration between PCHR and the regional OHCHR in Beirut by delivering an opening speech on behalf of the Committee. In her remarks, she highlighted “the role of NMIRFs in developing national plans to implement recommendations” and emphasized the UAE’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with OHCHR, which contributes to exchanging information and expertise, as well as best practices in the field of human rights, while enhancing the capabilities of PCHR. 

Moreover, she added: “PCHR is in charge of monitoring the accepted recommendations by the UAE, as part of the fourth periodic review on human rights. The cooperation between both sides in tracking national recommendations for human rights is deemed an important and essential step to facilitate PCHR’s work in monitoring the nation’s progress, in accordance with the recommendations issued by treaty bodies established under relevant international agreements.” 

She also affirmed that the UAE continues working towards reinforcing and protecting human rights on the national level as part of regional and international partnerships to exchange expertise and best practices in the field. 

For his part, Mr. Mazen Shaqoura, Regional Representative of OHCHR in Beirut, emphasized that the workshop seeks to highlight the available resources of the OHCHR to enhance technical capacities and deliver support to countries during the reformation’s planning phase. He also expressed hope that the workshop would be the first step in the technical collaboration between the UAE and the regional OHCHR. 

The workshop, which was attended by representatives of PCHR members, addressed the structure and capabilities of the national policies and procedures related to NMIRFs as well as best practices in the Arab region and across the world. The workshop also introduced a database for tracking the implementation of recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms to use as a tool for planning, monitoring, report preparation, database acquisition and operation mechanisms, as well as for information management. 

Notably, the Cabinet which established PCHR at the end of 2019, is chaired by His Excellency Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to His Highness the UAE President, with relevant entities in the UAE joining as members. 

The Committee is regarded as a national system for implementing, reporting, and follow-up, and serves as the national focal point in the UAE in the field of human rights. PCHR cooperates and coordinates with regional and international organizations in this area. It also oversees the annual organization of events and specialized workshops aimed at raising awareness and building national capacities in the field of human rights.