NGOs criticize UAE over human rights abuses

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA (AA) - Human rights NGOs gathered on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in Geneva called for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to comply with international standards with regards to human rights.

During a session at the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, human rights watchdogs expressed concern about severe human rights abuses such as systematic toture, arbitrary detentions in UAE.

Julia Legner, an international legal expert who works for Geneva-based Alkamara NGO said the torture and arbitrary arrests were still going on in the UAE.

“We are continuously concerned about human rights abuse in UAE,” she said and asserted that the local authorities have been hampering the investigations.

On Tuesday, the UN Human Rights Office reported that a number of Yemeni detainees were subjected to ill-treatment, torture and sexual abuse by UAE soldiers.