UAE backs youth advancement, UN Human Rights Council told

GENEVA, In a report presented today, Monday, to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UAE has affirmed its adoption of several strategic and futuristic initiatives that engage the nation’s youth. These include a national agenda programme for the UAE Vision 2021 aimed at a competitive knowledge economy and a first rate education system.

The report was presented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Anwar Gargash.

Currently six young people occupy ministerial positions in the UAE, three of whom are women. They represent the new phase in which the UAE is trying to create the best opportunities for the young generations in various spheres, including artificial intelligence, AI.

In a region where the rate of unemployment is around 30 percent – the highest in the world – the UAE has adhered to its commitment to guarantee high quality educational and career opportunities for young people, the report said.

According to the report, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development launched the National Strategy for Youth Empowerment with “a view to drawing up policies, measures and action plans to empower young people and provide them with opportunities to contribute actively to society at all levels.”

The strategy addresses all issues of concern to young people, including education, training, employment, volunteering, and the use of technology and community development, the report added.

Furthermore, the largest share of the UAE’s budget last year went into the Ministry of Education, the report continued. It went on to say that in 2017, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development has “formulated a set of five interactive educational applications for persons with disabilities,” highlighting the nation’s inclusive policy that ensures the development of all individuals within society.

As for children’s rights, the UAE takes a close interest in the situation of children and has enacted legislation on the right of children to care and development.

The report also highlighted the country’s efforts to combat the sexual exploitation of children, adding that the country “has chaired meetings of the virtual global task force to combat the online sexual exploitation of children and has obtained two permanent seats on the advisory board of the WeProtect global alliance.”

The UAE Government also issued Federal Decree Law No. 08 of 2016 on accession to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Source: Emirates News Agency