UAE education minister joins Geneva event on girls’ right to education
In short
Sarah Al Amiri, the UAE Minister of Education, took part in a high-level event on girls’ right to education in Geneva, convened by the UAE and UK permanent missions on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. The event marked the 12th anniversary of the council’s resolution on girls’ right to education and was co-sponsored by the Dominican Republic and The Gambia. Al Amiri called for collective efforts so that every girl completes at least twelve years of quality education, and cited the UAE’s candidacy for a Human Rights Council seat for 2028–2030.
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Sarah Al Amiri, the UAE Minister of Education, participated in a high-level event on girls’ right to education in Geneva, convened by the permanent missions of the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council, according to the state news agency WAM and a WAM-sourced report by Aletihad (English). [ 1 , 2 ]
The event marked the 12th anniversary of the adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution on girls’ right to education and was co-sponsored by the permanent missions of the Dominican Republic and The Gambia, under the theme “Renewing Global Commitment to Leave No Girl Behind,” Aletihad reported. [ 2 ]
Al Amiri delivered opening remarks alongside Awa Dabo, Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Kumar Iyer, the United Kingdom’s ambassador and permanent representative in Geneva. Al Amiri said: “Our ambition should remain clear: every girl should have access to and complete at least twelve years of safe, inclusive, equitable and quality education.” She added that education “should give her the knowledge, skills and agency to decide what comes next.” [ 2 ]
Al Amiri also linked the event to the UAE’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the 2028–2030 term, saying: “Having previously served three terms on the Council, we see our candidacy as an opportunity to build on that engagement, working with our international partners to advance and protect human rights.” [ 2 ]
Representatives of UNICEF, UN Women and UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education contributed perspectives on education in emergencies, gender equality and inclusive learning, Aletihad reported. The discussion was moderated by David Puyana, ambassador and permanent observer of the University for Peace, and featured contributions from a young speaker from Malawi and Emirati inventor Mariam Al Ghafri. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The event gave the UAE a platform to press its case for a Human Rights Council seat for the 2028–2030 term, a candidacy Al Amiri raised in her own remarks, as reported by Aletihad. It also keeps girls’ education on the council’s agenda twelve years after the resolution was adopted, though the documents report no new pledges, funding or follow-up mechanism from the meeting.
Key facts
- Sarah Al Amiri, the UAE Minister of Education, participated in a high-level event on girls’ right to education in Geneva, held on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Human Rights Council. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The event was convened by the permanent missions of the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom, according to Aletihad’s WAM-sourced report. [ 2 ]
- It marked the 12th anniversary of the adoption of the Human Rights Council resolution on girls’ right to education and was co-sponsored by the permanent missions of the Dominican Republic and The Gambia. [ 2 ]
- The theme was “Renewing Global Commitment to Leave No Girl Behind.” [ 2 ]
- Al Amiri delivered opening remarks alongside Awa Dabo, Deputy United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Kumar Iyer, the United Kingdom’s ambassador and permanent representative in Geneva. [ 2 ]
- Al Amiri said every girl should have access to and complete at least twelve years of safe, inclusive, equitable and quality education. [ 2 ]
- Al Amiri said the UAE is seeking membership of the Human Rights Council for the 2028–2030 term and has previously served three terms on the council. [ 2 ]
- Representatives of UNICEF, UN Women and UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education contributed perspectives on education in emergencies, gender equality and inclusive learning. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the event produced any commitments, funding or follow-up mechanism. Both documents describe the programme and the remarks delivered, but neither reports pledges or outcomes.
- How other participants responded to the UAE’s Human Rights Council candidacy for 2028–2030. Only Al Amiri’s own remarks mention the candidacy; no other delegation’s position is reported.
- The full list of participants and any closing statements. Coverage is partial: the official outlet carried only a headline and the other report’s text is cut off mid-sentence.