Category: Legal Matters

DUBAI, The UAE is gearing up to host hundreds of judicial officers at the 24th International Union of Judicial Officers Congress scheduled to take place at the Intercontinental Festival City in Dubai from November 22 to 25, 2021. To be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and hosted by Dubai Courts, the four-day UIHJ Congress will focus on an important theme – Cyberjustice: New opportunities for the judicial officer.

The International Union of Judicial Officers Congress (UIHJ) is an international non-governmental organisation incorporated to promote, co-ordinate and develop the activity of the judicial officers internationally in order to safeguard, through closer co-operation between the representative professional organisations on a national level, the dignity and independence towards a better service to persons and to the community.

“The UIHJ Congress is in line with Dubai Courts instructions to develop cooperation with related organizations in order to provide leading and globally distinguished judicial services,” HE Taresh Eid Al Mansouri, Director-General of Dubai Courts, says.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome all participants interested in justice, judiciary and judgments execution. Participants are from numerous full membership countries in the International Union of Judicial Officers, which include 93 countries as full members and 6 countries as observer members. We are all proud, on official and local level, to host this gathering in Dubai for the first time in the region of Middle East and North Africa.”

There are 93 member or associated member organisations of the UIHJ, from 90 countries. Every three years, the UIHJ organises the international congress of judicial officers, a unique scientific event, and a great opportunity for contacts for the profession of judicial officer.

The 24th International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) will help Dubai Courts, which last year received a number of accolades for its stellar performance, including ISO 2020 Certification and Gulf Summit for Human Resources for My Job program, to demonstrate its advanced judicial services to the rest of the world.

Dubai Courts has successfully handled 588,018 judicial transactions through its digital channel in 2020 – the year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Criminal Court of First Instance heard 20,715 cases in 2020, while the Labour Court of First Instance heard 14,945 cases in 2020. The Execution Court heard 122,703 cases while the Appeal Court heard 11,394 cases in 2020, according to Dubai Courts.

Marc Schmitz, President of UIHJ, says, “The world is becoming digitised at the speed of light and the current COVID-19 pandemic is even speeding-up that process. The judicial officer should consider the digital evolution in the judiciary, not only as a challenge but as an opportunity! An opportunity to reinvent themself!”

“Digital enforcement and enforcement of digital assets will become common practice in the near future. But so far, legislation is not keeping pace with the technical evolution!”

There is a requirement to introduce rules concerning digital enforcement and enforcement of digital assets. And these rules must be harmonised, right from the start on a worldwide level. Solutions on a state-level only, will not be sufficient. The digital world is cross-border. For that reason, consideration of continental and even global harmonisation is crucial.

“Events like our 24th International Congress can play a central role in this development and generate further considerations. UIHJ can be one of the pioneers and take a leading role by drafting position papers and making recommendations in the field of digital enforcement,” Marc Schmitz said.

“The presentation of a Global Code of digital enforcement, during the 24th International Congress of the UIHJ in Dubai, could become a milestone in its history. It will be the opportunity for the UIHJ to distinguish itself and to inspire the creation of national legislation in the field of digital enforcement and which would be – right from the beginning – harmonised on a worldwide level.”

The 24th International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) Congress will include an exhibition and will be participated by the stakeholders of social justice. The Congress will hold its Board Meeting, deliberate keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and networking events, among others.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and the Dubai Courts has launched a Virtual Court to handle labour litigation involving companies operating within the free zone and their employees, as part of Jafza’s efforts to establish excellence in its integrated business environment and digital ecosystem.

The court is equipped with a live broadcast system linked to the Dubai Courts, maintained under the highest levels of electronic security. Judges can also conduct hearings and adjudicate and access all details using an electronic link with Jafza’s digital labour contracts system and other related information to issue their verdicts.

The move follows a cooperation agreement signed in 2019, in the presence of Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director-General of the GDRFA in Dubai and Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs in Dubai, to establish a labour court that uses live broadcasting technology to handle litigation involving companies operating from the free zone and its business units.

The Virtual Court, located in Jafza Building 14, is equipped with everything required for the litigation process, similar to traditional courthouses at the Dubai Courts’ headquarters. It is also supported by state-of-the-art cybersecurity systems, which enable judges, lawyers, companies and litigants to remain constantly connected.

“People first is our principle at DP World – UAE Region and at all of our economic clusters and free zones. It is a value instilled by our founding fathers and a key pillar of Jafza’s organisational excellence as a licensing authority and world-class business hub. Due to this well-established approach to protecting rights, our system has been recognised by international companies and professionals. This has given Jafza the reputation of being a model destination for conducting business, with more than 8,500 companies, employing nearly 130,000 people,” said Abdulla bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World – UAE Region and Jafza.

Chief Justice Jamal Al Jabri, Head of the Labour Court at the Dubai Courts, added, “Establishing a Virtual Court to handle labour litigation involving companies operating from the Jebel Ali Free Zone is a major step in developing the judicial system. This supports our ongoing efforts to meet the requirements of a rapidly changing world, therefore, complementing the existing integrated judicial service system. It will give workers access to justice and protect their rights, which are guaranteed by law. The new system also ensures comprehensive access to services and prompt legal justice, in line with Dubai Courts’ vision to become a pioneering and internationally distinguished court.”

Source: Emirates News Agency

New York, Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Faysal Mikdad, discussed Thursday with Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, various aspects related to enhancing the distinguished bilateral relations between the two friendly countries at all political and economic levels which witnessed a new momentum through the recent summit held between Presidents Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The two ministers stressed the need to move forward in developing those relations and expanding them in various domains. The talks tackled the situation in Syria with both ministers underlining the need to continue fighting terrorism until it is completely eliminated, ending the illegitimate foreign presence on Syrian territory and removing unilateral coercive measures imposed on Syria.

In this context, Minister Lavrov affirmed his country’s principled stance, based on full respect for Syria’s sovereignty and independence and territorial integrity, and non-intervention in its domestic affairs.

In turn, Minister Mikdad expressed Syria’s appreciation for the Russian support in various political, economic and humanitarian fields.

The two sides also discussed developments in the region and welcomed convening the first Ministerial meeting of “the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations “held today in New York.

Source: Syria Arab News Agency

DUBAI, The Arab-European Centre of Human Rights and International Law (AECHRIL) has rejected the resolution passed by the European Parliament criticising the UAE’s human rights record, describing it as unfounded and factually incorrect.

In a statement issued today, AECHRIL stressed that the UAE is among the world’s top countries in respecting human rights, adding that the resolution ignores the UAE’s significant achievements with regard to human rights.

Islam El Ghazouly, Chairman of AECHRIL’s Advisory Board, commented, “The UAE treats human rights as a top priority, building on its heritage and constitution, which protects civil freedoms for all, and its legislative system, which promotes justice, equality, tolerance and the protection of rights and supports humanitarian and relief efforts, in line with the principles stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

El Ghazouly noted that the UAE established the National Human Rights Authority, and founded the world’s first Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, besides issuing laws and policies to protect the rights of workers, children, women, senior citizens, people of determination and prisoners.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) has organised remote workshops targeting regulatory authorities responsible for overseeing and monitoring non-profit associations in Dubai, as part of its efforts to highlight international standards for money laundering, terrorist financing and weapons proliferation issued by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The workshops were attended by 18 specialists representing three regulatory authorities, which are the Community Development Authority, the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department and the International Humanitarian City.

The workshops highlighted the competence of regulatory authorities based on supervisory and monitoring legislations covering the non-profit associations’ sector, in line with Decree-Law No. 20 of 2018 on countering money laundering crimes, combatting the financing of terrorism and illegal organisations. They also discussed the obligations of non-profit associations and reviewed the mechanisms and evaluation systems adopted by the MoCD.

Nasser Ismail, Assistant Under-Secretary of Social Welfare and Member of the National Committee for Combatting Money Laundering, said, “The workshops are part of a series of awareness and training programmes organised by the ministry to increase and enhance awareness among the regulatory authorities responsible for supervising and monitoring the non-profit associations’ sector, through laws, measures and regulations covering the methods of combatting money laundering, terrorist financing and illegal organisations in the UAE, to reduce the abuse of this sector in terms of supporting and financing terrorism and speeding up social work in the UAE.”

He also stressed the need for all regulatory authorities to achieve the objectives and competencies assigned to them under the enforced legislation, especially risk assessment and activate supervision and monitoring, to increase the efficiency of mutual assessments in the UAE.

Source: Emirates News Agency

SHARJAH, The General Command of Sharjah Police called on community members to take precautions and caution while visiting sea beaches, which are witnessing a great turnout on the Eid Al-Adha holiday, through enjoying various multiple recreational opportunities.

The General Command of Sharjah Police noted the importance of adhering to precautions, such as physical distancing, highlighting the importance of following the instructions shown on the guide boards along the beaches. The police also urged the parents to pay more attention to their children while going to the beaches, encouraging the beachgoers to adhere to the areas designated for swimming to avoid incidents.

Parents also have been warned against leaving their children alone in parked cars. The Sharjah Police stressed the danger of leaving children inside locked and hot cars, which may expose them to suffocation, emphasising that such incidents resulted from families neglecting their role of strict monitoring of the children.

The Sharjah Police General Command calls on the community individuals to cooperate with the police by reporting any emergency incident such as drowning, water accidents or any negative behaviour by calling 999 for emergency reports, or 901 for non-emergency cases and inquiring about Sharjah Police services, or via Haris service available in Sharjah Police application.

Source: Emirates News Agency