WAM -- The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the other founding fathers of the UAE sought to establish social justice and respect of human rights as the cornerstone of national state-building, protection of the social fabric as well as sustaining peace, security, stability and prosperity to serve all people regardless of faith, colour, gender, origin or social status, Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance, said today The UAE spares no efforts to make exceptional contributions to serve humanity because it honours its national and international responsibilities, she said in a speech delivered at the international Freedom and Citizenship conference, organised by al-Azhar University and the Muslim Council of Elders.

This, she stressed, is being driven by directives from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.

"Working together to expand participation in the public sphere and embody freedom, by practice and through respect of diversity, does require taking relevant measures in the legislative, legal, religious, cultural and media spheres. The goal is to establish Arab and Muslim society as an oasis of peace and fraternity, beacons for tolerance and harmony, and incubators for co-existence, love and solidarity," Sheikha Lubna added.

She highlighted achievements made by the UAE in fighting discrimination, hatred and sectarian strife, preempting deviant ideology and fanaticism while promoting happiness and prosperity for all.

She cited the anti-discrimination law, enacted by the UAE in 2015 to criminalise all forms of discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin and acts that stoke religious hatred.

True citizenship, national unity and co-existence cannot be achieved without taking such measures in all spheres at all levels, Sheikha Lubna said.