29th Session of the UPR Working Group - CIVICUS · 3.1 Under the UAE’s previous UPR examination, the government received three recommendations on the protection of human rights

Submitted 29 June 2017

SubmissionbyCIVICUS:WorldAllianceforCitizenParticipation,NGOinGeneralConsultativeStatuswithECOSOC

And

GulfCentreforHumanRights

And

InternationalServiceforHumanRights

CIVICUS:WorldAllianceforCitizenParticipation

MsRenateBloem,Email:[email protected]

Tel:+41227333435Web:www.civicus.org

GulfCentreforHumanRights

GCHRContact:KhalidIbrahim,Email:[email protected]:www.GCHR.org

InternationalServiceforHumanRights

ISHRContact:SarahMBrooks,Email:[email protected]

Web:www.ishr.ch

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Joint Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review

29th Session of the UPR Working Group

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1. Introduction

1.1 CIVICUSisaglobalallianceofcivilsocietyorganisationsandactivistsdedicatedtostrengtheningcitizenactionandcivilsocietyaroundtheworld.Foundedin1993,we promote marginalised voices, especially from the Global South, and havemembersinmorethan170countriesthroughouttheworld.

1.2 The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) is an independent, non-profit andnongovernmental organization that works to provide support and protection tohuman rights defenders in the Gulf region by promoting freedom of expression,associationandpeacefulassembly.

1.3 TheInternationalService forHumanRights isan independentnon-governmental

organisationdedicatedtopromotingandprotectinghumanrights.Weachievethisbysupportinghumanrightsdefenders, strengtheninghumanrights systems,andleadingandparticipatingincoalitionsforhumanrightschange.

1.4 In thisdocument, the abovegroupsexamine theGovernmentof theUnitedArab

Emirates’ (UAE’s) compliance with its international human rights obligations tocreateandmaintainasafeandenablingenvironmentforcivilsociety.Specifically,weanalysetheUAE’sfulfillmentoftherightstofreedomofassociation,assembly,andexpressionandunwarranted restrictionsonhumanrightsdefenders (HRDs)since its previous UPR examination in January 2013. To this end,we assess theUAE’s implementation of recommendations received during the 2nd UPR cyclerelatingtotheseissuesandprovideanumberofspecific,action-orientatedfollow-uprecommendations.

1.5 During the 2nd UPR cycle, the Government of the UAE received 17

recommendations relating to civic space. Of these recommendations, 8 wereacceptedand9werenoted.Anevaluationofarangeof legalsourcesandhumanrights documentation addressed in subsequent sections of this submissiondemonstrate that the Government of the UAE has not implemented anyrecommendations relating to civic space.While the government has persistentlyfailed to address unwarranted restrictions on civic space since its last UPRexamination, acute implementationgapswere foundwith regard to the rights tofreedomofexpression,associationandpeacefulassembly.

1.6 The authors are deeply concerned by the arbitrary arrests, torture, deportation

andimprisonmentofhumanrightsdefendersintheUAE.1.7 The authors are further alarmed by the criminalisation of legitimate forms of

expression online, resulting in the unwarranted detention of individuals whocriticisethegovernmentoritspoliciesonsocialmedia.

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• Section 2 examines the UAE’s implementation of UPR recommendations and

compliance with international human rights standards concerning freedom ofassociation.

• In Section 3, we examine the UAE’s implementation of UPR recommendationsand compliance with international human rights standards related to theprotectionofhumanrightsdefenders,civilsocietyactivistsandjournalists.

• Section 4 examines the UAE’s implementation of UPR recommendations andcompliance with international human rights standards concerning freedom ofexpression,independenceofthemediaandaccesstoinformation.

• In Section 5, we examine the UAE’s implementation of UPR recommendationsandcompliancewithinternationalhumanrightsstandardsrelatedtofreedomofassembly.

• Section6containsanumberofrecommendationsstatesshouldmaketotheUAEduringthethirdcycleoftheUPRtoaddresstheconcernsraisedandtoadvanceimplementationofpreviouslyacceptedrecommendations.

• Anannexof implementationof2ndcycleUPRrecommendationsrelatedtocivicspacecanbefoundinSection7.

2. Freedomofassociation

2.1 During theUAE’sexaminationunder the2ndUPRcycle, thegovernment receivedthree recommendations on the right to freedom of association and creating anenabling environment for civil society organisations. The government noted twoandacceptedone.TheUAEcommittedto“allowindividualstherighttoassociatefreely and provide expeditious due process for all those accused of crimes” andnoted the recommendation to “adjust existing laws governing non-governmentalorganisations to adapt them to internationalhuman rights lawsand standards”.1However, as evidenced below, the government has failed to take adequatemeasures to realise these recommendations. Of the three recommendations onfreedomofassociation,thegovernmenthasnotimplementedany.

2.2 The UAE constitution does not explicitly guarantee the right to freedom ofassociation2.Moreover,theUAEisnotastatepartytotheInternationalCovenanton Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantees freedom of associationunderArticle22.However,variousnationallawsregulatetheoperationsofpublicbenefitassociationsinthecountry.

1UnitedNationsHumanRightsOfficeoftheHighCommissioner,Countrypage,UnitedArabEmirates,http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/AEIndex.aspx2ConstituteProject,UnitedArabEmiratesConstitution,https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Arab_Emirates_2004.pdf

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2.3 FederalLaw6of1974ConcerningPublicUtilityAssociationsgovernsassociationsforpublicbenefit.Article15endowstheMinistryofLabourandSocialAffairswiththe discretion to oversee the direction and technical supervision of theprogrammesandactivitiesofassociations.AssociationsarerequiredtoprovidetheMinistryofLabourandSocialAffairswithallmaterialtheydisseminateinadvanceof their publication. 3 Operating an association without registration attractscriminalliability.

2.4 TheUAEauthoritiesfurthermaintainbroaddiscretiontointerfereanddictatethe

operationsofassociationsinthecountry.UnderFederalLaw6of1974ConcerningPublicUtilityAssociations, theMinistryofLabourandSocialAffairs reserves theright to send ministerial representatives to monitor meetings of associations.AssociationsarealsomandatedbyaMinisterialCircularNo3of1999tonotifytheMinistryofLabourandSocialAffairsatleast20daysbeforeitholdsameeting.4

2.5 InOctober2016,thegovernmentpassedanamendmenttothecountry’scriminal

code, theFederalLawDecree7/2016, furtherunderminingtherightto formandoperatecivilsocietyorganisations.Theamendmentstatesthatanyonefoundguiltyof establishing an organisation aimed at 'overthrowing the government' or'fighting against constitutional principles' may face the death penalty or lifeimprisonment.5

2.6 Under theLabourLaw,unionisationofworkers is illegal.6The ITUCreports thatthe UAE was among the top-ten worst countries for workers’ rights in 2017.7AccordingtoaUNWomenreportfromMay2017,theserestrictionsonassociation,both in theworkplaceandbeyond,haveanoutsizedeffectonmigrantworkers–who constitute90%of theworkforce. The report notes that factors that impedecollective action and fuel mistrust include “fear of loss of current or futureemployment,particularlywherethereareinsufficientlegalframeworkstoprotecttherightsofmigrantworkerstounionize;[and]fearofdeportation…”8

3InternationalCentreforNot-for-ProfitLaw,MinisterialCircular14of1994,http://www.icnl.org/research/library/files/United%20Arab%20Emirates/14-1994.pdf4InternationalCentreforNot-for-ProfitLaw,Circular3of1999,Toallassociationsforpublicbenefithttp://www.icnl.org/research/library/files/United%20Arab%20Emirates/3-1999.pdf5CIVICUSMonitor,UAEpasseslawstofurtherrestrictcivicspace,https://monitor.civicus.org/newsfeed/2016/12/22/amendments-criminal-code-further-restrict-core-civic-space-freedoms-uae/6Out-Law,HowUAEemploymentlawdealswithstrikes,https://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2015/june/how-uae-employment-law-deals-with-strikes/7InternationalTradeUnionConfederation,ITUCGlobalRightsIndex2017,https://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-global-rights-index-2017-18767,http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/survey_ra_2017_eng-1.pdf.8UNWomen,2016Researchpaper:Womenmigrantworkersjourneythroughthemargins,http://imrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/women-migrant-workers-journey.pdf

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2.7 ParticipationinCSOsislimitedtoEmiraticitizensasprescribedbyArticle2oftheFederal Law 6 of 1974 Concerning Public Utility Associations. All founding andactivemembers of CSOs should be holders of the nationality of theUnited ArabEmirates.9In 2015, the Gulf Times reported that expat “voluntary groups” andhometown-styleassociationsworking tosupportmigrants’ rightswereunable tomeetstringentregistrationcriteriasetoutbytheauthorities10.

2.8 On17March2014,humanrightsdefenderOsamaAl-Naijarwasarrestedbystate

securityforces.11Hisfatherisoneofthe“UAE94”–agroupservingheavysentenceshandeddownin2013onspuriouschargesofattemptingtooverthrowthegovernment.ThedetailsofOsama’sarrestwerenotdisclosedandforfourdayshewastorturedandkeptinsolitaryconfinement.HewasheldforsixmonthsindetentionandwaschargedwithbeingamemberofAl-Islah(ReformandSocialGuidanceAssociation),agroupbannedintheUAEforallegedlinkstotheMuslimBrotherhoodinEgypt.HewasduetobereleasedinMarch2017afterservingathree-yearsentence,butisstillindetention12

2.9 In January2014, internationalNGO,HumanRightsWatch,was forcedtocancelabriefing in the UAE to discuss its annual human rights report. 13 While theauthoritiessaidapermitwasneededtoholdtheevent,bylaw,sucheventsdonotrequirepermits.14

2.10 In 2013, Dr Mahmoud al-Jaidah a Qatari national, was arrested and accused ofproviding100000UAEdirhams(US$27225)tomembersofal-Islah(theReformand Social Guidance Association), a UAE-based association legally established in1974whichhascentresthroughouttheUAE,whereithasbeenengagedinpeacefulsocialandpoliticaldebate.Hewassentencedtosevenyearsbutwaspardonedin2014anddeportedtoQatar.15Duringhistrial,hisson,Abdulrahmanal-Jaidah,wasalso arrested andquestionedabouthispublic campaigning for the releaseof his

9InternationalCentreforNot-for-ProfitLaw,FederalLawNumber(20)oftheyear1981amendingsomeoftheprovisionsoffederallawnumber(6)oftheyear1974concerningpublicutilityassociations,http://www.icnl.org/research/library/files/United%20Arab%20Emirates/uae2081-en.pdf10GulfNews,ExpatNGOshitbytoughregistrationcriteria,http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/expat-ngos-hit-by-tough-registration-criteria-1.136310411GulfCentreforHumanRights,Update:UAE:TrialofhumanrightsdefenderOsamaAl-Najjarcontinueshttp://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/77712GulfCentreforHumanRights,UAE:CallfortheimmediatereleaseofhumanrightsdefenderOsama-Al-Najjarashissentenceexpires,http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/151913HumanRightsWatch,UAE:HumanRightsWatchforcedtocancelnewsconference,https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/22/uae-human-rights-watch-forced-cancel-news-conference14HumanRightsWatch,UAE:HumanRightsWatchofficialrefusedentry,https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/01/24/uae-human-rights-watch-official-refused-entry15AlJazeera,Qatariphysiciangetssevenyearsinjail,http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/03/qatari-doctor-gets-seven-year-uae-jail-20143319240990586.html

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father. He was forced to sign an apology to the UAE and was deported after amonth.16

3. Harassment, intimidationandattacksagainsthumanrightsdefenders,civil

societyactivistsandjournalists

3.1 Under the UAE’s previous UPR examination, the government received threerecommendations on the protection of human rights defenders, journalists andcivilsocietyrepresentatives.Oftherecommendationsreceived,twowereacceptedandonewasnoted.Thegovernmentcommittedtotworecommendationsincludingto, “take steps to protect human rights defenders, journalists and religiousminoritiesfromdiscrimination,harassmentorintimidation,includingthearbitrarydeprivation of nationality” and “respect the right to freedom of expression andassociation, andmake theminimumuseof criminalproceedings againstpersonsavailing themselves of those rights “. However, as examined in this section, thegovernmenthasnotimplementedtheserecommendations.

3.2 Article12of theUNDeclarationonHumanRightsDefendersmandates states totake necessary measures to ensure protection for human rights defenders.However, in spite of these guarantees, human rights defenders are routinelytargeted by the state through arbitrary arrests, torture, harassment and travelbans among other unwarranted restrictions. While article 26 of the UAEConstitution17explicitlyprohibits torture, it isroutinelyusedby thestateagainsthumanrightsactivists.

3.3 FederalLaw7onCombatingTerrorismCrimeswasputintoforcein2014.Thelawprescribes severe penalties, including death, for people convicted of terrorism,whichisbroadlydefinedtoincludeanyactresultingina“terroristoutcome,”suchaspubliclydeclaring“non-allegiance”tothecountry’sleadership.Suchvagueandoverly broad definitions, which equate a wide range of legitimate forms ofexpression,includingthoseprotectedbyinternationalhumanrightsstandards,asterrorism, is used to persecute human rights defenders or critics of thegovernment.18

3.4 Due to the widespread use of incommunicado detention, the exact number of

imprisoned human rights defenders cannot be verified.19 However, the cases16AmnestyInternational,Sonofdetainedmanabductedoutsidecourt,https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde25/013/2013/en/17ConstituteProject,UAEConstitution,https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Arab_Emirates_2004.pdf18HumanRightsWatch,UAE:Terrorismlawthreatensliberty,https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/12/03/uae-terrorism-law-threatens-lives-liberty19CIVICUSMonitor,UnitedArabEmiratesoverview,https://monitor.civicus.org/newsfeed/2016/06/01/uae-overview/

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examinedbeloware illustrativeof thesystematicharassment tosilenceactivists.Inaddition,asexaminedbelow,theauthoritiesalsoroutinelydeporthumanrightsdefendersandjournalistswhoarecriticalofthestateasatoolsuppressdissent.

3.5 In March 2017, prominent human rights defender and 2015 winner of theprestigiousMartin Ennals Award, AhmedMansoorwas taken from his home bysecurity agents and his whereabouts are still not known.20He was arrested oncharges of “using socialmedia [includingTwitter and Facebook] sites to publishfalseandmisleadinginformationthatharmnationalunityandsocialharmonyanddamage the country’s reputation" and "promoting a sectarian and hate-incitedagenda”.21A UN rights expert called on the UAE to release him immediately.22MansoorhasrepeatedlybeentargetedbytheUAEauthoritieswithimprisonmentandtravelbansforhisworktoassessthehumanrightsanddevelopmentsituationinthecountry,includingintheareaofdetention,tortureanddueprocess.MansoorattendedthefirstcycleUPRreviewoftheUAEastheonlyindependentcivilsocietyvoicefromwithinthecountry.

3.6 On On 3 December 2015, Jordanian journalist Tayseer al-Najjarwas arrested at

Dubai airport for three Facebook posts hemade criticising Egypt, Israel and theGulf States. He was held for a year without trial, including two months ofincommunicadodetention.23

3.7 InMay 2015, an Amnesty International expertworking on business and human

rights,JamesLynch,wasbarredfromenteringthecountrytospeakataconferenceontherightsofmigrantworkers.24

3.8 On 1 April 2014, journalist Yasin Kakande’s employmentwith state-owned UAEnewspaper The National was terminated after he wrote a book describing theconditionsofmigrantworkersandmediacensorshipintheUAE.HewasdeportedbacktohishomecountryUgandaandbarredfromenteringtheUAE.Hewastoldhe“didnotshowthecompanyandcountryinagoodlight”.25

20MartinEnnalsAwardsforhumanrightsdefenders,http://www.martinennalsaward.org/?hrd=ahmed-mansoor-221FormerUNSpecialRapporteur,UNRightsExperturgeUAEtoreleaseAhmedMansoor,http://freeassembly.net/news/uae-ahmed-mansoor/22FormerUNRapporteur,UNrightsexperturgeUAEtoreleaseAhmedMansoor,http://freeassembly.net/news/uae-ahmed-mansoor/23HumanRightsWatch,UAE:FreeJordanianjournalist,https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/12/28/uae-free-jordanian-journalist24AmnestyInternational,UAEdeniesentrytoAmnestyInternationalexpert,https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/05/uae-denies-entry-to-amnesty-international-expert/25ReporterswithoutBorders,UgandanjournalistsdamningaccountUAEmediacensorship,https://rsf.org/en/news/ugandan-journalists-damning-account-uae-media-censorship

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3.9 In2014,SeanO’Driscoll,ajournalistwhoco-authoredaNewYorkTimes’articleonlabourrightswasdeported.Thereasongivenonhisdeportationpaper,inArabic,was“security.”26

3.10 In January 2014, Aisha Ibrahim al-Zaabi, the wife of former judge and publicprosecutorMohamedSaqeral-Zaabi,oneofthedefendantsconvictedinabsentiato15 years’ imprisonment during the UAE94 trial, was arrested by state securityofficialsontheUAE’sborderwithOman,asshewastravellingwithherinfantson.Thestatesecurityofficerspresentednoarrestwarrantandconfiscatedhermobilephone and both her and her infant son’s passports. She was held in solitaryconfinementinsecretdetentionforfivedays.27

3.11 On22February2013,DrKristianUlrichsen,aresearcherwiththeLondonSchool

of Economics was denied entry into the UAE and deported back to the UnitedKingdomfromDubai.Hewasscheduledtodiscusshisreport"Bahrain’sUprising:Domestic Implications and Regional and International Perspectives" at aconference.DrKristianUlrichsenwasreportedlydeniedentryintheUAEbecausehe“consistentlyde-legitimisestheBahrainimonarchy”.28

3.12 In 2013 the authorities arrested 94 people who were accused of a plot tooverthrow the government.They were charged under the Federal Law 7 onCombating Terrorism Crimes and the Cybercrime Law. The accused, who havesincebecomeknownastheUAE94,weresentencedinJuly2013to7to15yearsinprison. The 94 individuals include political activists, human rights defenders,lawyers, academics, teachers and students. For seven months prior to thecommencementofthetrial,theywereheldinsecretdetentioncenters.Whentheyappeared before the court, they showed signs of torture,malnutrition andwereblindfolded. Scant evidence was produced to convict the 94 in a trial that waslargelyclosedofftoobservers.29

3.13 Human rights activists who attempted to witness the trial of the UAE94 were

denied access to the court or deported from the UAE. In March 2013, twoindependenttrialobserverssentbytheInternationalCommissionof Juristswereturnedawaybysecurityofficialsbefore theyreached thecourt.30AhmadNashmial-Dhafeeri, a Kuwaiti lawyer sent as an independent trial observer on behalf of

26Newsweek,UnderSurveillanceinAbuDhabi,http://www.newsweek.com/under-surveillance-abu-dhabi-reporters-saga-being-followed-bribed-and-31762727AmnestyInternational,Activist’swifereleased,https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde25/004/2014/en/28TheNational,WhyLondonacademicwasbannedfromUAE,http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/politics/why-london-academic-was-banned-from-uae29TheGuardian,TheUAE’sbizarrepoliticaltrialof94activists,https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/mar/06/uae-trial-94-activists30InternationalCommissionofJurists,Publications:Trialpublications,https://www.icj.org/united-arab-emirates-amidst-crackdown-on-political-reform-advocates-icj-documents-massive-rights-violations-in-the-uae-94-trial/

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Amnesty International, was refused entry into the UAE with no explanation.31Melanie Gingell, sent on behalf of a coalition of human rights organisationswasalsodeniedaccesstothefinalhearingon2July2013,despiteanearlierindicationbytheauthoritiesthatshewouldbeallowedtoattend.32

3.14 InJune2013,officialsatDubai internationalairport informedEgyptianjournalist

AnasFouda,asenioreditorwiththeMiddleEastBroadcastingCentremediagroup,that he was banned from leaving the UAE and detained him. After a month ofincommunicadodetentionhewasdeportedtoEgypt.Hewasheldwithoutchargeoraccesstoalawyerandhisfamily.33

4. Freedomofexpression,independenceofthemediaandaccesstoinformation4.1 Underthe2ndUPRcycle,thegovernmentreceived9recommendationsrelatingto

freedom of expression and access to information. For example, the governmentpledged to “repeal the 1980 Law on Publications and amend other relevantlegislation to ensure alignment with international human rights law on thefreedomofexpression”and“conductapublicconsultationontheCybercrimeLawtoensurethelawdoesnotpreventfreespeechandexpression,includingreligiousexpression”.Oftherecommendationsreceived,4wereacceptedand5werenoted.However,asdiscussedbelow, thegovernmentdidnot takeeffectivemeasures toimplementtheserecommendations.Ofthe9recommendationspertainingtotheseissues,thegovernmenthasnotimplementedany.

4.2 Article30oftheConstitutionoftheUnitedArabEmiratesguaranteestherighttofreedom of expression stating that “freedom to hold opinions and express themorally, inwritingorbyothermeansofexpressionshallbeguaranteedwithinthelimitsofthe law”34.However, inpolicyandpractice, thosewhospeakoutagainstthe state or express views that are critical of its policies are routinely arrested,harassed,torturedanddisappeared.35

4.3 RestrictionsonfreespeechimposedbythePrintingandPublicationsLawof1980

were further increased under the 2012UAECybercrime Law.Under the revised31AmnestyInternational,AIobserverdeniedentryintoUAE,https://www.amnesty.org/en/press-releases/2013/03/amnesty-international-trial-observer-denied-entry-uae/32FIDHWorldwideMovementforHumanRights,UAEdeniesinternationallegalobserveraccesstoverdictinshowtrialofUAE94,https://www.fidh.org/en/region/north-africa-middle-east/united-arab-emirates/uae-denies-international-legal-observer-access-to-verdict-in-show-trial-of-1358033AlJazeera,EgyptianjournalistfreedfromUAEdetention,http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/08/2013846293057501.html34ConstituteProject,UnitedArabEmiratesConstitution,https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Arab_Emirates_2004.pdf35CIVICUSMonitor,FreeExpressionintheUnitedArabEmirates,https://monitor.civicus.org/newsfeed/2016/06/01/expression-uae/

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law, Internet users in the UAE can be jailed if they post content online whichcriticisesthecountryoritsleaders.Article29oftheCybercrimeLawprovidesforprisonsentencesbetween3and15years forpublishing informationonlinewith“intenttomakesarcasmordamagethereputation,prestigeorstatureofthestateoranyofitsinstitutions”.Thelawalsoallowsforthedeathsentenceasmaximumpunishment.36

4.4 The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is empowered to block websites

thatpromoteterrorism,pornographyandcrime.However, theauthorityusesthedesignation of “crime” to unwarrantedly block websites that ‘“offend against, isobjectionableto,oriscontrarytothepublicinterest,publicmorality,publicorder,public and national security [of the UAE]”. Websites that carry content that iscriticalofthestateorcallforpoliticalreformareoftenthetargetoftheregulatoryauthority. The authorities also filter Internet content by blocking specific searchterms.37

4.5 On 29March 2017,Human rights defender and prominent academicNasser BinGhaith was sentenced to 10 years in prisonfor among other charges, “creatingaccountsonsocialmediaandpublishingphotosandarticlesdeemedoffensive tothe state’s symbols and values, its internal and foreign policies and its relationswithanArabstate”.HewaschargedunderthePenalCode,the2012FederalLawNo5onCybercrimeLaw38and the2014FederalLaw7onCombatingTerrorismCrimes.NasserBinGhaithhasbeenheldinsolitaryconfinementsincehisarrestin2015andcontinuestobedeniedaccesstomedicaltreatment.39Duringhistrialin2016,hetestifiedthathewasbeatenanddeniedsleepforuptoaweek.40

4.6 On 14 March 2016, Emirati blogger, Marwan Mohammad Atiq bin Sufyan, wassentencedtofiveyearsinjailandfined1millionAED(aboutUS$272000)bytheUAEHighFederalCourtfor“insultingthestateanddamagingitsreputation.”41

4.7 In2015,aten-yearprisonsentencewashandeddowntoAhmedAbdullaal-Wahdi,who was accused of running a social media account which insulted the UAE’s

36GulfNews,UnderstandingUAE’sCybercrimeLawandPenaltieshttp://gulfnews.com/news/uae/society/understanding-uae-s-cybercrime-law-and-penalties-1.156456537IFEX,NoEyeintheUAE,https://www.ifex.org/united_arab_emirates/2016/07/15/censorship_surveillance/38FederalLawNo5onCybercrimeLaw,http://ejustice.gov.ae/downloads/latest_laws/cybercrimes_5_2012_en.pdf39GulfCentreforHumanRights,UAE:Outrageous10-yearsentenceagainsthumanrightsdefenderDrNasserBinGhaith,asignificantblowtohumanrights,http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/153740CIVICUS,Statement:FreeEmiratiHumanRightsDefenderDrNasserBinGhaithonTrialforOnlinePostsinViolationofhisrighttoFreeExpression,http://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/news/885-free-emirati-human-rights-defender-dr-nasser-bin-ghaith-on-trial-for-online-posts-in-violation-of-his-right-to-free-expression41AmericansforDemocracyinBahrain,InternetcensorshipandsurveillanceintheUAE,http://www.adhrb.org/2016/07/internet-censorship-surveillance-uae/

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leadership and the country’s institutions. His computers and other equipmentwerealsoseized42

4.8 On15 February 2015, three sisters, AsmaKhalifa al-Suwaidi,MariamKhalifa al-

Suwaidi and Alyaziyah Khalifa al-Suwaidi, were arrested after peacefullycampaigning on Twitter for the release of their brother Dr Issa al-Suwaidi, aprisonerofconscienceconvictedaspartoftheUAE94masstrial.Theywereheldincommunicado and denied access to a lawyer or to their families.43The threewerereleasedafterthreemonthsinsecretdetention.

4.9 On 29 January 2015, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority blocked thewebsiteof theGulfCentre forHumanRights in theUAE.The site fallsunder theProhibitedContentCategoriesof theUAE’s InternetAccessManagementPolicy.44On29June2016thewebsiteoftheMiddleEastEye,anonlinenewsorganisation,wasblockedbyEmiratiauthorities.TheMiddleEastEyehadreportedwidelyontheUAE’sinvolvementinthewarinYemenaswellasonhumanrightsviolations.45

4.10 On 17 March, 2014, security officers raided the home of 25-year-old Osama al-Najjar,sonofHussainAlial-Najjaral-Hammadiwhoisaprisonerofconscience.Adaybeforetheraid,hehadpostedseveralmessagesonTwitterthatwerecriticalofthe authorities and questioned his father’s continued detention.46While hewasacquitted in June 2014, in 2015 he was charged and sentenced to three years’imprisonment and fined 500,000 Emirati Dirhams (US$136,000) by the StateSecurityChamberoftheFederalSupremeCourt.ThecourtalsoorderedthatallhiselectronicdevicesbeconfiscatedandhisTwitteraccountwaspermanentlyclosed.He was convicted of charges including “instigating hatred against the state”,“designing and running a website [with] satirical and defamatory ideas andinformation” deemed harmful to UAE institutions and “contacting foreignorganizations and presenting inaccurate information”. Hewas also chargedwithdefaming theUAE and its institutions.Hewas not allowed to appeal the judge’sverdictincontraventionofinternationalfairtrialstandards.Attheendofhisthree

42GulfNews,Emiratigets10yearsforinsultingUAEleadership,http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/courts/emirati-gets-10-years-for-insulting-uae-leadership-1.152136343AmnestyInternational,Threesistersdetainedaftertweetingabouttheirjailedbrother,http://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uae-three-sisters-detained-after-tweeting-about-their-jailed-brother44GulfCentreforHumanRights,GCHRwebsiteblocked,http://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/89445IFEX,NoeyeintheUAE,https://www.ifex.org/united_arab_emirates/2016/07/15/censorship_surveillance/46AmnestyInternational,SonofPOCarrested,atriskoftorture,https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde25/009/2014/en/

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yearsentencein2017,thestaterefusedtoreleasehimandcontinuestoholdhimindetention.47

4.11 Speakingopenlyonsocialmediacanalsohavedireconsequencesforhumanrights

activists. InNovember2013, Twitter activistWaleed al-Shehhiwas convictedbythe State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court and sentenced to twoyears’ imprisonment and a fine of 500 000 dirhams (US$136,000) after he wasprosecutedforhisonlineactivities.HewastriedunderboththeCybercrimeLawandthePenalCodebasedonhisactivitiesonTwitter.Hewasnotallowedtoappealthecourt’sverdict.48

4.12 InNovember2013, activistObaidYousef al-ZaabiwasarrestedbyStateSecurity

officersafterUSTVnewsstationCNNinterviewedhimaboutacaseinwhichaUSnationalhadbeenimprisonedintheUAEformakingaspoofvideoaboutDubai.Intheinterview,ObaidYousefal-ZaabisaidhehadbeenusingTwittertoexpresshisopinions, advocate political reform and defend human rights.49He was chargedwith “offending” the state. Although he was acquitted in 2014, the state hascontinuedtoholdhimwithnocharge.50

5. Freedomofpeacefulassembly5.1 DuringUAE’s examination under the 2nd UPR cycle, the government received two

recommendations on the right to freedom of assembly. Among otherrecommendations, the government committed to “allow individuals the right toassociate freely. It however noted the recommendations to “ensure the fullprotectionoftherightstofreedomofexpression,association,assembly,religionandbelief by all United Arab Emirates residents”. The government has failed toimplementtheserecommendationsonpeacefulassembly.

5.2 Article 33 of the UAE Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of assemblystating that “the freedom of assembly and the freedom to holdmeetings shall beguaranteedwithin the limitsof the law”.51However, inpracticealmostallprotests

47AmnestyInternational,UAEdecisionnottoreleaseactivistindefensible,https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/03/uae-decision-not-to-release-osama-al-najjar-indefensible/48BBCNews,UAEactivistjailedfortrialtweets,http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-2499208649AmnestyInternational,UrgentAction:Politicalactivistdetained,https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde25/011/2013/en/50AmnestyInternational,Politicalactivistacquittedbutnotreleased,https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde25/015/2014/en/51ConstituteProject,UnitedArabEmiratesConstitutionhttps://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/United_Arab_Emirates_2004.pdf

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are banned in the UAE.52Permission must be sought from the authorities beforeholdingapublicgathering.

5.3 Theamendments in2012 to theUAE’s the2012FederalLawNo5onCybercrimeLaw also stipulate that using the Internet to organise ‘unauthorised’ publicdemonstrationscanbepunishedwithlifeimprisonmentorthedeathsentence.

5.4 Under the UAE Labour Law, strikes may amount to criminal behaviour. Thoseparticipating in strikes face suspension fromwork. In thecaseof foreignworkers,strikingcarriestheriskofdeportation.53

5.5 Workerswhohaveattemptedtotakepartinstrikesfacearrestanddeportation.In

May2013,thousandsofconstructionworkersstayedawayfromworkasaformofprotestagainst their lowwages.Policeweresent into the JebelAli labourcamptoforceworkerstogotowork.Atleast30workersweregivendeportationnoticesfortakingpartintheaction.54

6. RecommendationstotheGovernmentoftheUAE

CIVICUS,GCHRandISHRcallontheGovernmentofUnitedArabEmiratestocreateandmaintain,inlawandinpractice,anenablingenvironmentforcivilsociety,inaccordancewiththerightsenshrinedinitsownConstitution,theUNDeclarationonHumanRightsDefendersandHumanRightsCouncilresolutions22/6,27/5and27/31.Tothisend,weurge the UAE to immediately ratify the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights(ICCPR)withminimalreservations;Ataminimum,thefollowingconditionsshouldbeguaranteed:freedomofassociation,freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, the right to operate free fromunwarranted state interference, the right to communicate and cooperate, the right toseek and secure funding and the state’s duty to protect. In light of this, the followingspecificrecommendationsaremade:

6.1 Regardingfreedomofassociation

• Takemeasurestofosterasafe,respectful,enablingenvironmentforcivilsociety,includingthroughremovinglegalandpolicymeasures,whichunwarrantedlylimittherighttoassociation.

52CIVICUSMonitor,PeacefulAssemblyintheUAE,https://monitor.civicus.org/newsfeed/2016/06/01/peaceful-assembly-uae/53Out-Law,HowUAEemploymentdealswithstrikes,https://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2015/june/how-uae-employment-law-deals-with-strikes/54AlJazeera,StrikingDubaiworkersfacemassdeportation,http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/201352375248751541.html

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• Remove all undue restrictions on the ability of civil society organizations toreceive international andnational funding in linewithbestpractices articulatedby the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to peaceful assembly and ofassociation.

• Abolishcriminalresponsibilityfororganisationandparticipationintheactivitiesofnon-registeredorganizationsandliftthebanontheactivitiesofnon-registeredorganizations.

• Allcivilsocietyorganizationswhichhavebeenarbitrarilyandundulysanctionedorderegisteredshouldbeimmediatelyreinstated.

• Unwarranted raids on civil society groups and unjustifiable disruptions tolegitimate,conferences,seminarsandotheractivitiesorganizedbyCSOsshouldbestopped.

• Specifically,FederalLaw6of1974, inparticularArticle15of the law,shouldbesuitablyamendedtoguaranteethatunduerestrictionsonfreedomofassociationareremoved.

• Guaranteetheexistenceoftradeunionsandremoveunduelimitationsontherighttostrike.

6.2 Regardingtheprotectionofhumanrightsdefenders• Civilsocietymembers,journalistsandhumanrightsdefendersshouldbeprovideda safe and secure environment to carry out their work. Conduct impartial,thorough and effective investigations into all cases of attacks, harassment, andintimidationagainstthemandbringperpetratorsofsuchoffensestojustice.

• Ensurethathumanrightsdefendersareabletocarryouttheirlegitimateactivitieswithout fear or undue hindrance, obstruction or legal and administrativeharassment.

• Takeallnecessarymeasurestoensuretheprotectionofhumanrightsdefendersworkingwithmigrants, individually and in associationwith others, against anyviolence, threats, retaliation including threatsofdeportation,de factoorde jureadverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action, by state or non-stateactors,asaconsequenceoftheirhumanrightswork55.

55GlobalMigrationGroup,PrinciplesandGuidelinesonthehumanrightsprotectionofmigrantsinvulnerablesituations,2017.p49-50

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• AconsolidatedprocessofrepealoramendmentoflegalisationanddecreeswhichunwarrantedlyrestrictthelegitimateworkofhumanrightsdefendersinlinewiththeUNDeclarationofHumanRightsDefendersshouldbeinitiated;

• Specifically, Federal Law 7 of the Year 2014 on Combating Terrorism Crimesshouldbesuitablyamendedtoaddressoverbroaddefinitionsof“terrorism”whichhavebeenusedtopersecutehumanrightsdefenders.

• All human rights defenders including, journalists and bloggers detained forexercising their fundamental rights should be unconditionally and immediatelyreleased.Theircasesshouldbereviewedtopreventfurtherharassment.

• The Government should apply systematically legal provisions that promote andprotect human rights and establish mechanisms that protect human rightsactivistsbyadoptingaspecific lawontheprotectionofhumanrightsactivists inaccordancewithCouncilresolution27.31oftheHumanRightsCouncil.

6.3 Regardingfreedomofexpression, independenceofthemediaandaccessto

information• Ensure freedom of expression and media freedom to all by bringing nationallegislationinlinewithinternationalstandards.

• ReviewthePrintingandPublicationsLawof1980,inlinewithbestpracticesandinternationalstandardsonfreedomofexpression.

• Repeal UAE’s Cybercrime Law that limits freedom of expression online andprohibitstheuseoftheInternettoorganisepublicdemonstrations.

• Allmediaoutletsandnewswebsitesunwarrantedlyclosedandblockedshouldbereinstated.

• Ensure that journalists and writers may work freely and without fear ofretributionforexpressingcriticalopinionsorcoveringtopicsthattheGovernmentmayfindsensitive.Theauthoritiesmustceasethepracticeofdeporting,arrestingandtorturingjournalists.

• Develop an action plan which ensures that Internet laws comply with thegovernment’s commitment toguarantee freedomof expressionand information,so as to ensure free access to electronic media, liberalise electronic media

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ownership rulesandallownationalbloggers, journalists, other Internetusers toplayafullandactiveroleinpromotingandprotectinghumanrights.

• Unfetteredaccesstoonlineinformationresourcesshouldbeallowedbyremovingrestrictions on access to national and international news websites and socialmediaoutletsandthewebsitesofcivilsocietyorganizations.

• Implement legislative measures regarding access to information and establishmechanismstofacilitatepublicaccessinlinewithbestpractices.

• Adoptalawonaccesstoinformationinordertofullypromotetheexerciseoftherighttofreedomofexpressionandfreedomofopinion.

6.4 Regardingfreedomofassembly• Bestpracticesonfreedomofpeacefulassemblyshouldbeadopted,asputforwardbytheUNSpecialRapporteurontheRighttoPeacefulAssemblyandAssociationinhisannualreport(2012)whichcallsforsimplenotificationratherthanexplicitpermissiontoassemble.

• TheUAEsLabourlawshouldbeamendedinordertofullyguaranteetherighttostrike.

• Alldemonstrators,journalistsandhumanrightsdefendersdetainedforexercisingtheir right to freedom of peaceful assembly should be unconditionally andimmediately released. Their cases should be reviewed to prevent furtherharassment.

• Recourse for judicial review and effective remedy should be provided includingcompensation incasesofunlawfuldenialof theright to freedomofassemblybystateauthorities.

6.5 RegardingaccesstoUNSpecialProceduresmandateholders

• TheGovernmentshouldextendastandinginvitationtoallUNSpecialProcedure

mandateholdersandprioritizeofficialvisitswiththe:1)SpecialRapporteuronthesituationofhumanrightsdefenders;2)SpecialRapporteuronthepromotionand protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression; 3) SpecialRapporteur on Freedom of Special Rapporteur onthe rights tofreedomofpeaceful assemblyand ofassociation; 4) Special Rapporteuron theIndependence ofJudgesandLawyers; 5) Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial,

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summaryorarbitraryexecutions;6)SpecialRapporteurontherightstoprivacyand;7)WorkingGrouponArbitraryDetention.

6.6RegardingStateengagementwithcivilsociety

• Implementtransparentandinclusivemechanismsofpublicconsultationswithcivil society organizations on all issues mentioned above and enable moreeffectiveinvolvementofcivilsocietyinthepreparationoflawandpolicy.

• Include civil society organizations in the UPR process before finalizing andsubmittingthenationalreport.

• Systematically consultwith civil society andNGOs on the implementation ofUPR including by holding periodical comprehensive consultations with adiverserangeofcivilsocietysectors.

• IncorporatetheresultsofthisUPRintoitsactionplansforthepromotionand

protectionofallhumanrights,takingintoaccounttheproposalsofcivilsocietyandpresentamidtermevaluationreporttotheHumanRightsCouncilontheimplementationoftherecommendationsofthissession.

7.AssessmentofimplementationofcivicspacerecommendationsRecommendation Position Fulllistofthemes Assessment/comm

entsonlevelofimplementation

Theme:A41Constitutionalandlegislativeframework128.107.ContinuetotakestepstoupholdfreedomofexpressionbyreviewingrestrictivearticlesofitsrecentCyberCrimelawandconsiderupdatingthe1980MediaLaw,ensuringthatnewlegislationbealignedwitharticle19oftheICCPR(Canada);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(c)

Noted A41Constitutionalandlegislativeframework

D43Freedomofopinionandexpression

S16SDG16-peace,justiceandstronginstitutions

Affectedpersons:

-media

Status:NotimplementedSource:Paragraph4.1

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Recommendation Position Fulllistofthemes Assessment/commentsonlevelofimplementation

128.118.Continueitseffortstodevelopamodernlegalframeworkformediathattakeintoconsiderationnewsocial,culturalandpoliticaldevelopmentswhilepreservingtheinterestsoftheStateandsociety(Kuwait);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)

Supported A41Constitutionalandlegislativeframework



Affectedpersons:

-general

-media

Status:NotimplementedSource:Paragraph4.1and4.3

Theme:B31Equality&non-discrimination128.105.Takestepstoprotecthumanrightsdefenders,journalistsandreligiousminoritiesfromdiscrimination,harassmentorintimidation,includingthearbitrarydeprivationofnationality(Austria);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)

Supported B31Equality&non-discrimination

D6Rightsrelatedtoname,identity,nationality

D42Freedomofthought,conscienceandreligion

G1Membersofminorities


H1Humanrightsdefenders

S10SDG10-inequality


Affectedpersons:

-media

-minorities/racial,ethnic,linguistic,religiousordescent-basedgroups

-humanrightsdefenders

Status:NotimplementedSource:Paragraph3.1-3.4

Theme:D42Freedomofthought,conscienceandreligion

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128.104.Ensurethefullprotectionoftherightstofreedomofexpression,association,assembly,religionandbeliefbyallUnitedArabEmiratesresidents(Austria);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(c)

Noted D42Freedomofthought,conscienceandreligion


D44Righttopeacefulassembly

D45Freedomofassociation


Affectedpersons:

-general

Status:NotimplementedSource:Paragraph4.1-4.6and5.3

Theme:D43Freedomofopinionandexpression128.106.Repealthe1980Lawonpublicationsandamendotherrelevantlegislationtoensureitisalignedwithinternationalhumanrightslawonthefreedomofexpression(UnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)

Supported D43Freedomofopinionandexpression

A41Constitutionalandlegislativeframework


Affectedpersons:

-media


128.109.Furtherdeveloplegislationandpracticesinthemediasectortostrengthentherighttofreedomofexpression(Turkmenistan);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)




Affectedpersons:

-media

Status:NotimplementedSource:Paragraph4.2,4.3and4.4

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128.110.Bringcriminallegislation,inparticularArticles8and176oftheCriminalCode,inconformitywithinternationalstandardsgoverningfreedomofexpression(Belgium);

Noted D43Freedomofopinionandexpression



Affectedpersons:

-general

-media


128.112.Ensurelegislationintheareaoffreedomofexpressionisinlinewithinternationalstandards,includingbyamendingtheCyberCrimelawandrepealingtheNovember2012FederalLegalDecreeNo.5onCyberCrime(Ireland);




Affectedpersons:

-general

-media


128.113.Encouragefreedomofexpressionandthepress,includingbyamendingthepenalcodetoremoveallcriminalpenaltiesforallegedlibeloffences(Norway);




Affectedpersons:

-general

-media


21


128.114.TakeimmediatestepstoensurethatthenationalregulationsrelatingtotheInternetguaranteefreedomofexpression(Sweden);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)




Affectedpersons:

-general

-media


128.111.Enhanceimplementationoftheconstitutionalprovisionsonfreedomofexpression(Italy);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)


A42Institutions&policies-General


Affectedpersons:

-general

-media


128.108.ConductapublicconsultationontheCybercrimelawtoensurethatthelawdoesnotpreventfreespeechandexpression,includingreligiousexpression(UnitedStatesofAmerica);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(c)


D42Freedomofthought,conscienceandreligion

G1Membersofminorities


Affectedpersons:

-media

-minorities/racial,ethnic,linguistic,religiousordescent-basedgroups


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128.115.Releasefromcustodyanyindividualdetainedsolelyonthebasisofpeacefulexpressionofpoliticalviews(Norway);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(c)



Affectedpersons:

-general

-media

-personsdeprivedoftheirliberty


Theme:D45Freedomofassociation128.119.Allowindividualstherighttoassociatefreelyandprovideexpeditiousdueprocessforallthoseaccusedofcrimes(UnitedStatesofAmerica);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)

Supported D45Freedomofassociation

D51Administrationofjustice&fairtrial


Affectedpersons:

-general

-personsdeprivedoftheirliberty


128.116.Adjustexistinglawsgoverningnon-governmentalorganizationstoadaptthemtointernationalhumanrightslawsandstandards(Uruguay);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(c)

Noted D45Freedomofassociation

H1Humanrightsdefenders



Affectedpersons:


Status:NotimplementedSource:Paragraph2.2,2.3

Theme:H1Humanrightsdefenders

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128.117.Considertheadoptionofproperreformsinordertoimprovetheprotectionoffreedomforhumanrightsdefenderstocarryontheirinitiatives(Italy);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(c)

Noted H1Humanrightsdefenders


Affectedpersons:



128.103.Respecttherighttofreedomofexpressionandassociation,andmaketheminimumuseofcriminalproceedingsagainstpersonsavailingthemselvesofthoserights(Belgium);Sourceofposition:A/HRC/23/13/Add.1-Para.5(a)

Supported H1Humanrightsdefenders

D45Freedomofassociation

D51Administrationofjustice&fairtrial



Affectedpersons:


-general

-media


Documents

29th Session of the UPR Working Group - CIVICUS · 3.1 Under the UAE’s previous UPR examination, the government received three recommendations on the protection of human rights