UAE: USG HUMAN RIGHTS STRATEGY

1. This cable has been coordinated with Congen Dubai.



2. We offer the following comments in response to reftel
request for a summary of Post's actions in 2002 to
encourage respect for human rights in the United Arab
Emirates.



3. Since its independence in 1971, the United Arab
Emirates has transcended rapidly from an undeveloped
country to a dynamic regional economic power with an
advanced infrastructure and a diverse urbanized population.
In the process, the UAE Government has granted increasing
protection for human rights in many areas. Embassy Abu
Dhabi and Consulate Dubai have encouraged the continuation
and broadening of this progression through a strong public
diplomacy program and an active dialogue with all levels of
government and civil society.



4. Throughout the year, the Embassy and Consulate General
used public diplomacy programs to encourage respect for
human rights. We utilized the numerous visits of U.S.
government officials, NGOs and private individuals as tools
to engage with the government, civil society and the public
through media interviews, lectures, roundtables and hosted
gatherings for various political, academic, and social
leaders. We also used official functions to promote human
rights, for example, at the annual Independence Day
reception we used a photographic exhibition to highlight
the role of minorities and immigrants in the development of
our country.



5. We continued to highlight and promote the role of
women, journalists and civil society activists in a number
of ways. To encourage the enhanced participation of women
in public life and business, the Ambassador met regularly
with UAE First Lady Shaykha Fatima Bint Mubarak and other
women leaders and hosted regular get-togethers for women
from numerous disciplines. The Public Affairs Section
hosted a Ramadan iftar for journalists and embassy
officials, and awarded a public diplomacy grant to the
country's largest environmental NGO, which is led by an
Emirati woman.



6. At the encouragement of embassy and consulate
officials, a number of Emirati officials, academics,
journalists and other individuals participated in
International Visitor Programs and other exchanges and
conferences that included components promoting respect for
human rights. For example, two police officers attended an
International Visitor Program on monitoring and combating
trafficking in persons. And, the Embassy facilitated the
attendance of a Ministry of Justice official in a judicial
reform exchange program.



7. To highlight our commitment to the advancement and
protection of human rights in the area of trafficking in
persons, the Ambassador added trafficking in persons to the
agenda for the first U.S.-UAE Strategic Dialogue in
November 2002 to build on the excellent strides made by the
UAE Government in the implementation and enforcement of a
child camel jockey ban in September 2002. And, furthering
the U.S. policy of promoting religious freedom, we
expressed concern to the UAEG about the prosecution of an
expatriate pastor for proselytizing.



8. In 2003, Post will continue to pursue an activist
approach with the UAEG. An official visit in January 2003
by Department of State officials from the Office to Monitor
and Combat Trafficking in Persons provided an excellent
opportunity to engage senior Emiratis on this important
transnational crime and human rights issue. We will
continue to utilize the annual reports on human rights,
religious freedom and trafficking in persons as tools to
promote and encourage respect for human rights in the UAE.

WAHBA