Group launches campaign to boycott UAE over 'grim' human rights record

The International Campaign to Boycott the UAE (ICBU) made the announcement in a statement this week.

"UAE has been committing war crimes in Yemen in addition to being the hub of modern slavery and labour abuse; the country has grimly failed in respecting human rights," the ICBU said.

The group accused the UAE of being a leader in human trafficking, money laundering and terrorism funding.

It added that it will kick off the campaign on October 15 to pressure Emirati authorities to "respect human rights".

Human Rights Watch has accused the UAE of a wide-ranging list of violations including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance and torture of detainees as well as mistreatment of migrant workers.

In July, the group said that the UAE was torturing terror suspects from Yemen in a secret prison in Eritrea - the UAE denied the charges.

This week, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which includes the UAE, fighting in Yemen was placed on a UN blacklist for killing and maiming children.

The coalition is responsible for the deaths and injuries of 683 children last year, according to UN figures.

Riyadh has rejected the report.

Editor's note: A previously published version of this article incorrectly referred to the new group as The International Campaign for Freedom in the United Arab Emirates (ICFUAE). We apologise for the error and would like to make it clear that the ICFUAE is not affilated to the International Campaign to Boycott the UAE.