US rights report 'was unbalanced', says UAE minister

A US state department report issued last week that was critical of the UAE human rights record was unbalanced, the Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs said yesterday.

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ABU DHABI // A US state department report issued last week that was critical of the UAE human rights record was unbalanced, the Assistant Foreign Minister for Legal Affairs said yesterday.

Dr Abdul Rahim Al Awadhi said in a statement published by the state news agency Wam that the UAE 2012 Human Rights Report "does not mention some of the important steps that the UAE has taken in 2012 to further the protection of human rights".

"The UAE faces many challenges on human rights issues, like other countries, and is highly committed to an ongoing process of improvement in this regard," Dr Al Awadhi said.

"The UAE Government takes concerns of any possible violation of human rights very seriously and is constantly working at strengthening its capacity to respond to these. It will continue to take this proactive approach in a way that is consistent with its Constitution, laws and traditions."

The report was released on April 19.