logo
World leaders, nobel laureates, and peace advocates unite in UAE for Global Justice, Love & Peace Summit

World leaders, nobel laureates, and peace advocates unite in UAE for Global Justice, Love & Peace Summit

Khaleej Times18-04-2025
In a historic moment that brought together the world's most inspiring changemakers, the Global Justice, Love & Peace Summit took center stage at Expo City, UAE, on April 12 and 13, 2025. With the powerful theme 'One Planet, One Voice: Global Justice, Love and Peace,' the summit witnessed an extraordinary gathering of 12 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, international diplomats, human rights defenders, and peace advocates from across the globe.
This year's summit was more than a series of speeches — it was a call to action, a platform for voices demanding justice, equality, and peace in a rapidly changing world. From war-torn regions to global classrooms, the summit's message resonated loud and clear: unity and justice are essential tools for building a better tomorrow.
Among the distinguished Nobel Laureates in attendance were Lech Wałęsa (Poland), Kailash Satyarthi (India), Nadia Murad (Iraq), Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Ouided Bouchamaoui, Prof. Mohan Munasinghe (Sri Lanka), Housine Abbasi, and Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh (Tunisia). Each brought powerful stories of courage, struggle, and transformation, united by a shared mission to foster a world grounded in peace, dialogue, and fairness.
A key highlight of the summit was the launch of the Peace Charter: Love Letter to Humanity — a landmark document that encapsulates core values such as equality, education, freedom, and the power of togetherness. The Charter was passionately endorsed by all delegates, envisioned as a guiding light not just for governments, but for individuals and communities worldwide.
The UAE, a nation recognised for its commitment to tolerance and unity, proudly hosted this global milestone. Dubai's Expo City transformed into a beacon of hope, where cultures and nations came together not as separate entities, but as one global family advocating for peace.
The summit was honored by the presence of esteemed personalities including Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, UAE Parliamentarian and Chair of the Federal National Council's Defense, Interior & Foreign Affairs Committee, who shared insights on the UAE's diplomatic vision for a peaceful world.
Bringing deep intellect and heart to the event, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former president of Mauritius, moderated insightful sessions. From India, a strong delegation made a meaningful impact: Chandra Kumar Bose (Socio-political activist and Convenor), Dr Vishwanath Karad (Founder, MIT World Peace University), and Dr Ahmed Haque, a renowned peace activist and delegate, all lent powerful voices to the cause of global harmony and justice.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UAE anti-terror laws 'cover' for crackdown on peaceful dissent, report shows
UAE anti-terror laws 'cover' for crackdown on peaceful dissent, report shows

Middle East Eye

time8 hours ago

  • Middle East Eye

UAE anti-terror laws 'cover' for crackdown on peaceful dissent, report shows

The United Arab Emirates' landmark 2014 anti-terror law is being used as a tool of political control rather than a way to protect national security, a new report by Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) said. The non-governmental organisation was founded in 2005 by Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Tawakkol Karman. In a 48-page report released last week, the findings point to vague legal provisions in the UAE that allow for what the authors have couched as dangerous prosecutorial overreach. Federal Law No. 7 of 2014 represents the UAE's most comprehensive legal instrument addressing terrorism-related offenses. It was created because of a confluence of regional instability and the UAE's own strategic recalibration. There was also the regional rise of the Islamic State, which added to the urgency of the law's development. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Reformists have also long said that the law was designed to halt the rise of a popular brand of political Islam in the early 2010s. But its criminalisation efforts under broad terms such as "offending the state" and "undermining national unity" raise significant human rights concerns, the report said. "Compounding this issue is the law's reference to individuals who 'threaten', 'aim', 'plan', or 'seek' to commit terrorist crimes - formulations so vague that they could encompass expressions of opinion, political advocacy or even the exercise of conscience," the authors said. As a result, Federal Law No. 7 has caused the suppression of civil society engagement and dissent, leading to the detention of journalists, lawyers and academics, and creating a chilling effect across the country, the report explained. Among the most notable cases are individuals who received a decade or longer prison sentences for being part of the so-called 'UAE 94': when 94 activists were prosecuted for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2012-2013. UAE top court upholds life terms for 24 convicted in mass trial Read More » The detainees were largely affiliated with the political reform party al-Islah, whose approach was solely non-violent. But for some of the most high profile dissidents, serving their sentence was not enough - the UAE tried several of them again in 2022-2023 under the vague terms of the 2014 anti-terror law, and extended their sentences, the report showed. Many of the alleged activities in the case that became known as the 'UAE 84' in its second round pre-dated the anti-terror law itself, raising concerns about the retroactive application of criminal law. Human rights lawyer Mohammed al-Roken - after spending a decade in prison - is now serving a life sentence for opposing the act of citizenship revocation by the Emirati government, the report said. Activists Maryam al-Balushi and Amina al-Abdouli were sentenced to an additional three years in prison in 2021 for "publishing information that disturbs public order", after they shared audio recordings with United Nations Special Procedures, in which they described torture and abuse in UAE prisons. "The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that both women were subjected to unfair trials and arbitrary detention. Their cases demonstrate how the law is used to silence prisoners who expose abuse, even while in custody," the report said. And even though they are now working in exile, Mohammed al-Zaabi and Hamad al-Shamsi, who remain advocates for the UAE's political prisoners, have been added to the country's terrorism blacklist. Recommendations But it's not just criticism of the UAE and its ruling family that has landed people in prison. The economist Nasser bin Ghaith has been arrested multiple times for his critical views of regional governments. In 2017 he was sentenced to a decade behind bars on charges including "offending the state" and "communicating with banned groups". Families of political prisoners often face harassment, travel bans and surveillance, and live in fear of acts of retaliation, the report also said. "These cases reflect the systematic use of counterterrorism legislation to dismantle civil society, criminalize peaceful expression and suppress legitimate dissent rather than targeting genuine threats," WJWC noted. Punishments in the UAE for perceived terror offenses also far exceed the international standard, it showed. "Arbitrary deprivation of liberty is prohibited; detention must be time-bound and subject to judicial oversight," the report said, adding that there must be "independent and transparent investigations into all torture allegations, holding perpetrators accountable". But the UAE allows for indefinite detention in "counseling centres" even after a prison sentence is served, without a clear path to contest continued detention. There are also no independent authorities to investigate torture complaints, which are widespread, the report indicated. "The UAE's continued failure to ratify key international treaties, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and its non-compliance with obligations under instruments it has ratified - such as the Convention Against Torture - highlight a profound gap between international human rights commitments and domestic legal practice," the authors wrote. The WJWC also issued a call to "international actors - including UN bodies, human rights organisations and the UAE's Western allies - to exert meaningful diplomatic and policy pressure to encourage reforms". The report argued that because the UAE presents itself as a key global counterterrorism partner, it legitimises its policies to governments abroad, when it is only further asserting authoritarian control. The WJWC urged immediate changes toward detailing the language in the anti-terror law, ensuring transparency in independent judicial proceedings and allowing public access to trials. It called for the repeal of provisions allowing for indefinite detention, and a "guarantee" that any "rehabilitation" programmes are in fact voluntary. The UAE must also assume full engagement with UN human rights bodies and allow for country visits for compliance assessments, the WJWC argued.

Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property
Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property

Arabian Business

time2 days ago

  • Arabian Business

Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property

Saudi Arabia's Cabinet has approved the use of a digital identity system to allow non-Saudi, non-resident foreigners to own property in the Kingdom, the government said, as part of new rules opening up the real estate market. The decision enables digital IDs to be used ahead of the implementation of the Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law, which was approved in July and will take effect in January 2026, according to a Cabinet resolution published on Friday. Mechanisms under development The General Real Estate Authority will coordinate with the Ministry of Interior, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), the National Information Center and other relevant bodies to develop mechanisms for activating the digital ID. The Cabinet resolution said the identity must be operational before the property ownership law comes into force. The approval also endorsed a decision by the Strategic Committee of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs on governance for non-Saudi ownership and usufruct rights. A dedicated committee will be formed within the General Real Estate Authority's board of directors to oversee those matters. The Cabinet amended the structure of the authority's board, which will now be headed by the Minister and include the CEO, representatives from 10 ministries and government entities, and three private-sector members appointed by the Council of Ministers for renewable three-year terms. The ministries represented include Interior, Municipalities and Housing, Finance, Justice, Economy and Planning, Investment, Environment, Industry and Mineral Resources, as well as the General Authority for State Properties and the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information. Steps required for non-residents In July, the General Real Estate Authority released a draft of the law's executive regulations. Under the draft, non-resident foreigners seeking to own or use property in the Kingdom would need to obtain and activate a digital ID through the Absher platform, open a Saudi bank account, and secure a local contact number. The authority has said these measures are designed to ensure transparency and compliance in the property registration process as Saudi Arabia seeks to attract more foreign investment into its real estate sector. The Cabinet's approval on Friday follows Resolution No. 16 of the Council of Ministers, which reviewed recommendations from the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and several memoranda from the Board of Experts. The Non-Saudi Real Estate Ownership Law is part of the Kingdom's broader economic reform programme under Vision 2030, which aims to diversify income sources, attract foreign investment, and develop sectors such as tourism and real estate.

'To serve and defend': Jordan to reactivate national military service
'To serve and defend': Jordan to reactivate national military service

The National

time3 days ago

  • The National

'To serve and defend': Jordan to reactivate national military service

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan announced on Sunday the reactivation of the country's national military service. During a meeting with young people from Irbid governorate, the Crown Prince said Jordanians must be prepared to serve and defend their country. He said citizens who had previously participated in the national military service understood the importance of the experience. And he stressed the role of the programme in strengthening national identity and young people's connection to their homeland. The announcement came as Jordan seeks to project a posture of tough policies against Israel, in response to the war in Gaza. Jordan has halted co-operation with Israel on development and infrastructure projects, but still imports large volumes of water and gas from the country. The Crown Prince said he directed the government to work with its partners to develop the National Military Service Programme, with details yet to be announced. Jordan ended conscription in 1991, under which males between the ages of 18 and 40 had to serve in the army for two years. Jordan depends on the US for aid and has a defence pact with Washington under which thousands of American troops are in the kingdom.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store