Women’s Rights in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

31/12/2009
Press release

Note submitted to the 45th Session of the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
on the occasion of its first examination of the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ratified the Convention for Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) on 6 October 2004, but with extensive reservations:

These reservations are so wide that in many areas they effectively empty ratification of meaning. To date the state has not initiated any process to review these reservations and work toward removing them. It is also deplorable that there has been no action by the state (or existing women’s organizations - all of which work very closely with the government) to raise awareness on women’s rights and CEDAW.
During the latter half of the 20th Century , the UAE have undergone rapid economic development. The lifting of trade barriers and the subsequent influx of foreigners have had profound effects on Emirati society. Today, approximately 80% of the population of UAE are non-nationals.

For women in the UAE, despite some progress in access to education, health, and the economic sector, their rights continue to be widely violated. Legislation remains deeply discriminatory, in particular in the area of the family, and deep-rooted stereotypes of women’s roles in society persist. Migrant women are particularly vulnerable to violations of their rights, both as non-nationals and as women.

This report following is a summary of the principal concerns of the Coalition for Equality without Reservation regarding the situation of women in the UAE. It should be noted, however, that effective analysis of the situation of women’s rights is rendered difficult by the absence of reliable statistics and studies.

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