A/HRC/23/13 119. Afghanistan welcomed the United Arab Emirates’ policies and strategies promoting and protecting rights and freedoms, as well as its accession to major international instruments. It commended the United Arab Emirates for its contribution to developing countries. It made recommendations. 120. The Republic of Korea welcomed the “Emirates Vision 2021” strategy. It noted the United Arab Emirates’ efforts to establish a national human rights institution and welcomed its ratification of CAT and CRPD. It made recommendations. 121. The head of the United Arab Emirates delegation assured that the United Arab Emirates would closely study the comments and recommendations received during the review with a view to further improving its record. On questions related to HIV, the delegation referred to a decision taken by the Cabinet in 2010 to upgrade the national programme on combating HIV, which addressed various important issues in this area and aimed to improve the lives of those who suffer from this illness, enabling them to study and work, and to play a productive and positive role in society, including through social and financial support. 122. With regard to the legal system, the delegation conveyed its pride regarding international indicators which revealed that the transparency of its legal system enjoyed a high rank among the countries of the world. The delegation thanked the Chair and the Troika for their role. He noted that all institutions and civil society had benefited from the UPR process, for which they had prepared over a period of two years through an inclusive dialogue. In the process, the United Arab Emirates had built capacity, a very important thing in itself. Over 130 civil society organizations had participated in this process. 123. The delegation reiterated that the United Arab Emirates would continue to address labour issues and it would exchange experience and expertise with friends and partners to further improve its record. Substantial progress had already been made since 2008. The United Arab Emirates had carefully listened to observations made at the 2008 review, and it was again doing so now. 124. On the status of women, the delegation highlighted the United Arab Emirates’ positive record, which was outstanding among countries in the region, at a time which saw the reversal and regression in the rights of women in many countries of the Arab region, even in countries that had undergone revolutions. 125. The United Arab Emirates also emphasized its progressive record on minority rights, religious tolerance and harmony between the different communities, which was the essence of the society that the United Arab Emirates aspired to maintain. In this spirit, the United Arab Emirates was also gradually developing the political participation process, as initiated in 2006. The delegation stated that the United Arab Emirates would continue to fight against extremist agendas, which attempted to undermine this record with a regressive and conservative approach. 126. The delegation also acknowledged the existence of some boundaries, derived from the country’s religious and cultural framework, which required all laws to be in line with the foundations of Arab and Muslim society and did not allow different cultures to be superimposed on the United Arab Emirates society. 127. The delegation concluded that the United Arab Emirates’ record, while not being perfect, was a strong and positive one, which was at the forefront in the region and which the United Arab Emirates was keen to defend. 15