Committee against Torture Adopts New Observations on the UAE

The Committee against Torture closed its seventy-fourth session after adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Botswana, Nicaragua, State of Palestine, and the United Arab Emirates.

On the United Arab Emirates, the Committee expressed concern that no definition of torture had been incorporated into the State party’s legislation, and that legislation regulating torture was insufficient.

It urged the State party to bring its legislation in line with the Convention and ensure that the absolute prohibition of torture was upheld. 

The Committee welcomed legislation, policy, and institutions implemented to combat sexual and gender-based violence. 

However, it expressed concern that victims of domestic violence were required to consider conciliation settlements before prosecution took place. It was also concerned by the continued practice of female genital mutilation and the lack of legislation expressly criminalising it.

It recommended that the State party increase its efforts to stamp out gender-based violence and other harmful practices. 

Further, the Committee expressed concerns over allegations of torture and ill-treatment by the State party’s armed forces in Yemen.

The Committee called on the State party to investigate and prosecute these offences and ensure that victims had a viable pathway to redress, rehabilitation, justice, and compensation.