Emirates Press

ABU DHABI: The Permanent Committee for Human Rights (PCHR) in the UAE has organised a three-day workshop in collaboration with the regional Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Beirut, on the role of National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up (NMIRFs), and mechanisms for developing national plans to implement the recommendations issued by the international human rights mechanisms.

Hind Alowais, Director of PCHR, launched the workshop, organised in collaboration between PCHR and the regional OHCHR in Beirut by delivering an opening speech on behalf of the Committee.

In her remarks, she highlighted ‘the role of NMIRFs in developing national plans to implement recommendations’ and emphasised the UAE’s keenness to strengthen cooperation with OHCHR, which contributes to exchanging information and expertise, as well as best practices in the field of human rights, while enhancing the capabilities of PCHR.

Moreover, she added, ‘PCHR is in charge of monitoring the accepte
d recommendations by the UAE, as part of the fourth periodic review on human rights. The cooperation between both sides in tracking national recommendations for human rights is deemed an important and essential step to facilitate PCHR’s work in monitoring the nation’s progress, in accordance with the recommendations issued by treaty bodies established under relevant international agreements.’

She also affirmed that the UAE continues working towards reinforcing and protecting human rights on the national level as part of regional and international partnerships to exchange expertise and best practices in the field.

For his part, Mazen Shaqoura, Regional Representative of OHCHR in Beirut, emphasised that the workshop seeks to highlight the available resources of the OHCHR to enhance technical capacities and deliver support to countries during the reformation’s planning phase. He also expressed hope that the workshop would be the first step in the technical collaboration between the UAE and the regional OHCHR.

T
he workshop, which was attended by representatives of PCHR members, addressed the structure and capabilities of the national policies and procedures related to NMIRFs as well as best practices in the Arab region and across the world. The workshop also introduced a database for tracking the implementation of recommendations issued by international human rights mechanisms to use as a tool for planning, monitoring, report preparation, database acquisition and operation mechanisms, as well as for information management.

Notably, the Cabinet which established PCHR at the end of 2019, is chaired by Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, with relevant entities in the UAE joining as members.

The Committee is regarded as a national system for implementing, reporting, and follow-up, and serves as the national focal point in the UAE in the field of human rights.

PCHR cooperates and coordinates with regional and international organisations in this area. It also oversees the annual organisation of
events and specialised workshops aimed at raising awareness and building national capacities in the field of human rights.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Doha: HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met Wednesday with HE Ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the State of Qatar Khisrav Sohibzoda, on the occasion of the end of his tenure.

HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs thanked HE the Ambassador for his efforts in enhancing and promoting the bilateral relations, wishing him success in his new duties.

Source: Qatar News Agency

ABU DHABI: MAKTABA, the Library Management Department within the Culture Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is offering an educational and entertaining programme for visitors at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2024. The programme encompasses an array of morning and evening activities, workshops, discussions, cultural challenges, and much more.

During ADIBF 2024, MAKTABA will host a session commemorating the career of the late Shaikha Al Muhairi, former Director of the Library Management Department of the Culture Sector at DCT Abu Dhabi. The session will highlight her contributions to enriching the cultural sector in the emirate and her efforts to promote reading among all segments of society, contributing to shaping the knowledge of new generations.

MAKTABA will also hold an awards ceremony to honour the schools that won the Library Pioneers Competition 2024, which aimed to encourage schools and students to visit public libraries in Abu Dhabi and get a
cquainted with the various activities, services, and events organised by MAKTABA across its branches and the Digital Library. In addition, there will be a ceremony honouring elite students who contributed to the Little Writer in the Big Book Competition’s ninth edition (Expo 2020), which aims to encourage children to write and develop their literary skills.

Visitors to ADIBF will also enjoy various artistic and entertainment workshops, activities dedicated to people of determination, as well as dialogue sessions and reading workshops hosting a group of the most prominent writers in the country and the region.

For instance, the ‘Sustaining Knowledge’ dialogue session explores sustainability’s significance in personal lives and its contribution to happier, more prosperous societies. The ‘Bibliotherapy’ workshop introduces bibliotherapy and how reading contributes to enhancing mental health, while the ‘Youth and Intellectual Security’ awareness workshop aims to explain intellectual security and how to safeguar
d young minds from external influences. In ‘Writing in the Age of AI’, participants will discuss means of leveraging technology for creative writing, while those joining the ‘What’s Cybersecurity?’ workshop will be introduced to the best practices for staying safe online.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Doha: QatarDebate organized the 5th Debate Capacity Building Program at Colombia University, in New York City, in collaboration with the US Arabic Debate Union, a QatarDebate initiative.

The program was held to support and sustain the work of the US Arabic Debate Union, engaging in this edition 40 participants from 50 prestigious educational institutions.

The Debate Capacity Building Program focuses on enhancing participants’ fundamental skills with regard to training, teaching, community participation, effective debate tournament organization, and the union’s managerial matters, in addition to empowering a selected group of participants in leading debate activities in the Arabic language in the United States.

Instructed by trainers Saad Al Assad and Mohamed Abu Sneineh, the 5th Debate Capacity Building Program included discussions of the unions annual plans, as well as debating advanced workshops, arbitration, and skill training, in addition to organizational skills training meant to equip participants w
ith the set of skills needed to successfully and independently hold debate programs and events all year long to maintain continuity.

Commenting on the program’s significance, QatarDebate Programs Director Abdulrahman Al Subaie said that this capacity-building program manifests QatarDebate’s goal of community capacity building and expanding its network in the US and the world as a whole.

Source: Qatar News Agency

DUBAI: The esteemed Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024 has recognised Canadian University Dubai (CUD) as the top university in Dubai with regard to Art and Design and Business and Management Studies. Among 5,000 globally renowned institutions, CUD distinguishes itself by attaining rankings of 351-400 for Business and Management Studies and 201-240 for Art and Design. This exceptional accomplishment positions CUD third in the United Arab Emirates for Art and Design and fourth for Business and Management Studies at the national level, corresponding to the upper 5% and 8% of the world, respectively, for these fields of study.

Dr. Dima Jamali, Vice President of Academic Affairs at CUD, encapsulates the essence of the university’s success, stating, ‘The accomplishments achieved by Canadian University Dubai in the QS World University Rankings by Subject serve as a resounding affirmation of our unwavering dedication to excellence. We are putting research front and center
, focusing on improving rigor, and quality, capitalizing on important industry and academic collaborations. We are committed to forging a path marked by outstanding academic standards.’

CUD’s unparalleled dedication to integrating global trends and innovation into its curriculum, coupled with a pragmatic focus on experiential learning, has positioned the university as a beacon of educational excellence. Dr. Jamali further highlights, ‘Our stellar track record of performance over the years is a testament to our relentless pursuit of excellence and our steadfast dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators.’

At the heart of CUD’s success lies its robust partnerships with key industry leaders, facilitating invaluable opportunities for students to gain practical insights and develop employability and entrepreneurship and sustainability skills essential for success in the global marketplace. Dr. Jamali concludes, ‘As we celebrate our achievements in the QS World University Rankings by Su
bject, we remain committed to nurturing future entrepreneurial leaders who are equipped to drive positive change and shape a sustainable future for generations to come.’

Additionally, CUD provides students with experiential learning opportunities through state-of-the-art labs and the Research Excellence Centre. Notably, CUD has established key research collaborations, such as its recent cutting-edge collaboration with the University of Oxford aiming at establishing “The Global Health Network for the Middle East and North Africa,” where CUD will serve as the Regional Hub. This initiative involves collaboration with 12 regional top-notch partners selected as MENA network members. As the leader of this network, CUD aims to enhance health research capacity, address public health issues, secure funding, foster partnerships, and mobilize resources for low-resource settings in the region.

In conclusion, Canadian University Dubai’s recognition in global rankings, such as the QS World University Rankings by Subject,
is a testament to its commitment to excellence. These rankings affirm the effectiveness of CUD’s initiatives in fostering innovation, sustainability, research impact and essential employability skills among its students.

Source: Emirates News Agency

Doha: The Board of Directors of the Gulf Press Union (GPU) decided at the conclusion of its first meeting, hosted by the Qatar Press Center, to open the membership door for joining the union and to appoint new committees, including the Freedom Committee, the Gulf Women Journalists Committee, and the Digital Media Committee.

The board members also approved, at the end of their three-day meeting, the minutes of the preparatory meeting held in Manama in January, as well as the adoption of the new union logo, the approval of the website, and other procedural matters related to administrative and financial regulations, membership forms and fees, in addition to approving several training programs and exploring ways to enhance financial resources. They also approved membership fees for associations, unions, and institutions.

During their first meeting, the board of directors discussed other topics related to enhancing the work of the union and upcoming action plans to ensure the achievement of the union’s goals b
y enhancing joint journalistic work, with the participation of presidents of associations, unions, and media centers in the GCC countries.

Saad bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi, a member of the Board of Directors of the GPU and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Press Center, noted the GPU’s response to the center’s invitation to host the first meeting of the union in Qatar, which represents a strong and new start for joint Gulf work in journalism.

He noted that the meeting in Doha provided an opportunity to address the current challenges facing journalism in the Gulf region, which are part of global challenges, including how to attract youth to journalism. He pointed out that the establishment of the Digital Media Committee is an important and positive step to keep pace with the rapid changes in the field of journalism.

On his part, GPU Vice President and Secretary-General Isa Al Shaiji praised the Qatar Press Center for hosting the first meeting of the union’s board of directors and commended the cen
ter’s efforts in achieving the union’s strategic objectives at the GCC level.

He stated that the first meeting reviewed a range of topics of mutual interest, including those requiring further coordination and follow-up in the coming months, especially regarding future projects and the development of executive plans. Therefore, the members of the board agreed to hold the next board meeting in September.

The Doha meeting yielded several outcomes, including the approval of joint work plans and important recommendations, such as opening the membership door and appointing specialized committees such as the Digital Media Committee, the Freedom Committee, and the Women Journalists Committee, aiming to enhance press freedom, support youth in journalism, and provide all necessary support for working women in the field of journalism, which is of great importance in developing Gulf journalism and media content.

At the end of the meeting, Isa Al Shaiji was appointed acting GPU President during the upcoming period afte
r the members approved the resignation of Mohammed Al Hammadi, the former GPU President, acknowledging his significant efforts that contributed to supporting the work of the union.

The Gulf Press Union was established based on a preparatory meeting held in Manama in January, aimed at promoting Gulf journalism, ensuring the rights of journalists and media professionals, and developing communication channels between international, Arab, and global journalistic organizations. Additionally, the union aims to implement joint Gulf media projects among the GCC countries.

Source: Qatar News Agency