ABU DHABI // The UAE is the leading country in the Middle East when it comes to human rights, a report reveals.
A global index puts us ahead of our regional neighbours and 14th worldwide – ahead of many western countries, including the United States.
Norway took the top spot, followed by Sweden, Australia, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and the Netherlands.
The UAE is listed just behind the UK and Iceland but before Austria in the study of 216 countries.
Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad are at the bottom.
The report, the International Human Rights Rank Indicator, was developed by the Global Network for Rights and Development, a Norway-based non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting social justice and conflict mediation.
The index provides a combined score of countries’ performance across 21 categories, including the right to life, to an adequate standard of living, the right to take part in government, freedom from torture, the right to freedom of assembly and the rights of foreigners.
“Human rights need careful attention and neutral attitude, the brighter and wider the violations of human rights are presented the better measures are taken on the way to stop them,” the organisation said, quoted by state news agency Wam.
“More than 2,000 individuals all over the world are collecting and entering information constantly,” a statement added.
The UAE’s performance on human rights is monitored by a number of organisations, including the Universal Human Rights Index, a database of specific recommendations issued to countries by the United Nations.
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