Humanity high on UAE's agenda

The UAE has taken the initiative in spreading the culture of respecting humanity and ensuring the protection of civilians in troubled regions in the Arab World and around the globe, officials said Wednesday. "The UAE honours its obligations under International Humanitarian Law and has brought education of the law to the curricula of schools and courses of universities," said Dr Abdul Rahim Yousuf Al Awadi, Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs. Dr Al Awadi was reviewing the 2011-2012 action plan of the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law. He added that since its inception in 2004, the commission had undertaken the spreading of the culture of respecting human beings, in particular the protection of civilians during armed conflict, through a series of conferences, workshops and changing laws and school curricula. Khawla Ebrahim Al Mualla, assistant undersecretary for extracurricular and school environmental activities, said simple concepts of Humanitarian Law were being taught in primary and secondary schools. "More extensive and analytical materials are taught in universities," he added. The sub-committee on training and education of the National Commission on International Humanitarian Law also works to introduce the law as a subject in the military instruction and training programs and university courses in law, political sciences and mass communication. The UAE is signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention which requires states to disseminate the content of the humanitarian treaty as widely as possible in their respective countries. "The UAE promotes knowledge of humanitarian law among those whom it is intended to protect the civilian population as well as among those who have to apply it public officials of various ministries as well as different sectors, starting with diplomats and those working in the educational, cultural, health, and relief sectors," said Mohammad Khalifa Al Qamzi, secretary general of the Red Crescent Authority. The UAE Foreign Ministry's Emirates Institute of Diplomacy has been selected as a regional centre for training on International Humanitarian Law by the Arab countries. The institute trains Arab diplomats and local agencies on the law. International humanitarian law is part of international law, which is the body of rules governing relations between states. International law is contained in agreements between states, in customary rules and in general principles. It applies to armed conflicts. From / Gulf News