A/HRC/23/13 leadership positions in different institutions. For example, there were four women in the Federal Cabinet and there were a number of female federal judges. Furthermore, women were major contributors to the United Arab Emirates economy. Thus, the Council of Businesswomen in the United Arab Emirates had more than 12,000 members, who ran more than 11,000 ventures, with an estimated value of $3.4 billion. 16. In 2011 the United Arab Emirates had taken another important step in cementing the rights of women when the United Arab Emirates President issued a decree according citizenship rights to children born to Emirati women but whose father is not Emirati. It accords them citizenship rights, and at the age of 18 they have the choice of taking United Arab Emirates nationality or retaining the father’s nationality. The Government was taking the implementation of recommendations on women’s rights very seriously and was in the process of adopting a National Strategy for the Advancement of Women for 2013 to 2017. 17. Regarding human trafficking, the delegation noted that the United Arab Emirates was committed to the global effort to combat this phenomenon and was taking a lead on this issue regionally. It was the first country in the Arab region to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law, and remarkable progress had been made since 2007 on the United Arab Emirates’ anti-trafficking strategy. Related initiatives had included (a) training courses and workshops; (b) a media campaign to enhance public awareness; (c) a strategy to combat all forms of forced labour; and (d) an expansion in the number of shelters for women and children victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. 18. Regarding the United Arab Emirates’ international commitments, the delegation noted that in 2011 the United Arab Emirates had disbursed a total of $2.1 billion in grants and loans to development, humanitarian and charity programmes worldwide. 19. The United Arab Emirates also highlighted its attention to organizing workshops focused on spreading human rights principles among law enforcement authorities in charge of combating terrorism, and the allocation of significant resources to infrastructure development in remote areas. 20. The progress achieved in the United Arab Emirates was also evidenced by its ranking in the United Nations’ Human Development Index, which indicated that the United Arab Emirates had the highest level of human development in the Arab world. 21. Referring to challenges in connection with the turbulence in the Arab world over the previous two years, the delegation stated that the United Arab Emirates had worked to maintain its stability and security, protect the progressive nature of its society and prevent extremism from gaining a foothold. Noting that every country had to find the right balance between preserving civil liberties and maintaining national security, the delegation stated that the United Arab Emirates had not shied away from its responsibility to protect national security, but would continue to exercise this responsibility strictly within the framework of its constitution, laws and judicial practices, with due respect for international human rights principles. 22. In this vein, the head of delegation reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to the promotion of human rights and to multilateral engagement, including through the UPR process. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 23. During the interactive dialogue, 88 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in chapter II of the present report. 24. Armenia noted the Government’s positive approach towards the visit of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur on racism. It commended the 5