The United Arab Emirates has reiterated its firm commitment to water and sanitation as fundamental human rights during a high-level panel at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Speaking at the session, UAE Permanent Representative Jamal Jama Al Musharakh underscored the country's focus on equitable access to water as a cornerstone of sustainable development. He emphasised the UAE’s leadership in advancing this right both domestically and globally through initiatives like the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 and the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia), which has provided clean water to over 15 million people across 37 countries.
The panel discussion was held in line with Human Rights Council Resolution 57/13, adopted in October 2024, and aimed to integrate human rights into the lead-up to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal.
Al Musharakh highlighted the importance of inclusive planning, stressing the need to center gender equality, support for marginalised communities, and transparency in shaping the six proposed interactive dialogues for the conference.
The UAE will also take part in the upcoming preparatory meeting in New York on July 9, where the dialogue themes for the 2026 conference are set to be officially adopted.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
