UAE is world’s cultural-financial centre: Amal Clooney

In a fiery speech at the ongoing International Government Communication Forum in Sharjah, Amal Alamuddin Clooney spoke about the need of effective measures for regional states to adopt better human rights practices.

The lawyer, human rights activist and author, praised the UAE, calling it the ‘cultural financial centre of the world’ and lauded the country for its ‘innovative’ and ‘ambitious’ approach to the future.

“The UAE today is ranked the happiest Arab nation. And I ask myself, what makes the UAE so great. When you think about it, it comes down to innovation and ambition. These are the two things that have made the UAE the cultural financial centre of the world,” she said.

“And convening this conference about international government practices to create meaningful communication is also a testament of this innovative, cosmopolitan and ambitious approach.

“I want to share five ideas of government communication that relates to international human rights,” she said.

1. Governments need to be vocal: Human rights has become the language that states use to communicate. It is the yardstick states are measured against.

Trade deals, aid packages are all contingent on a state’s human rights approach. Travel bans and financial sanctions are being imposed on human right violators, where they can’t get visas to enter certain countries or access bank accounts.

Today, a country’s global reputation depends on its human right stance. Being vocal about human rights is also important in the case of proving legal rights.

Sometimes, saying nothing can see you lose your legal rights. So be vocal; your reputation and your islands are at stake.

2. Be consistent. At a domestic level, this means, different arms of the government must be able to respond to a single incident in one voice.

In different countries around the world, where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is saying one thing, the Ministry of Justice is saying the other.

It is important to speak as one voice. It means to have a single point that releases statements with accuracy.

At the international level, it’s maintaining the ability to come clear. States often comment on human right records of others.

‘Do as I say and not as I do’ is not the stance to take. Therefore, it’s important domestically and internationally to be consistent.

3. Be principled. Diplomats traditionally defend rights of citizens abroad. But this is changing. Today, governments speak up about human rights violations affecting others too.

Governments spoke up about the illegal detaining of Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma.  

In the past year, governments have criticised the illegal detainment of two of my clients. I’m happy to say they are both out of prison.

These types of statements made by governments are consequential; they can save lives. My advice is to be vocal, consistent and be principled in communications.

4. Be quick. In a world where an increasing number of journalists think fact-checking takes place on Twitter, governments have to be prepared for the need to be transparent and give statements quickly.

If the government can anticipate an important event coming up and the scope for the region, then get the message out first.

5. Be the future. We live in a time of unprecedented crisis. I believe in today’s world successful government communications will be by those that reinforce these principles.

"And if there is any government that can do this, then surely it is one with the happiest citizens and one with the most innovative, cosmopolitan and ambitious approach," said Amal Alamuddin Clooney, wife of Hollywood film star George Clooney.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.