On human rights day, the UAE continues to violate fundamental human rights

On this day in 1948, after the destruction of WWII, the UN General Assembly signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

According to human rights organizations, the government of the United Arab Emirates violates a number of fundamental human rights. 

There are reports of forced disappearances in the UAE, many foreign nationals and Emirati citizens have been abducted by the UAE government and illegally detained in undisclosed locations.

In numerous instances, the UAE government has tortured people in custody and has denied their citizens the right to a speedy trial and access to counsel during official investigations.

The government restricts freedom of speech and freedom of the press, and the local media is censored to avoid criticizing the government, government officials or royal families. Freedom of association and freedom of religion are also curtailed.

Despite being elected to the UN Council, the UAE has not signed most international human-rights and labor-rights treaties.