Ahead of the country’s hosting of COP28, more than 40 NGOs have signed a joint statement expressing deep concern over the human rights situation in the UAE.

 Authorities in the UAE continue their sustained assault on human rights and freedoms, including targeting human rights activists, enacting repressive laws, and using the criminal justice system as a tool to eliminate the human rights movement, the statement reads.

According to the joint statement, these policies have led to the closure of civic space, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, both online and offline, and the criminalization of peaceful dissent.

The statement called on the UAE authorities for immediately and unconditionally release all those detained solely for the exercise of their human rights.

It also stressed the need to end all abuse and harassment of detained critics, human rights defenders, political opposition members, and their families;

It further called for ensuring an ambitious and human rights-consistent outcome of COP28, including through but not limited to the adoption of a call to all states to phase out all fossil fuels and all fossil fuels subsidies to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

Read full statement here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/01/joint-statement-uae-human-rights-record-ahead-cop28