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1^st Annual Sheikh Zayed Memorial Lecture on the Rule of Law held at UAEU by Lord Soley of Hammersmith

 

The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) received Lord Clive Soley of Hammersmith, Member of the House of Lords in the UK, who delivered a lecture on "Rule of Law and the Stable Society" at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, Abu Dhabi.

The lecture was attended by HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, and UAEU Chancellor; and Her Majesty's British Ambassador to the UAE, Dominic Jermey OBE; as well as a large audience including academics and professionals.

This event is intended to be the first in a series of prestigious lectures on the rule of law, to be organized by the UAEU in cooperation with the Good Governance Foundation, UK. It has been decided by the two institutions that this important annual event be called the Sheikh Zayed Memorial Lecture, because the Sheikh had made such an important contribution to the Emirates and also to the wider Arab world. He was a strong supporter of modernisation with respect for the traditions of his country and his culture. He also believed in the rule of law. The UAEU, as the leading, the biggest and oldest university in the country, took the lead in bearing the responsibility for organizing the first of those prestigious lectures.

Lord Soley's lecture was concerned with the rule of law and its effect on the prosperity and wellbeing of the society. In his lecture, Lord Soley suggested that the rule of law enables a state to create greater stability and prosperity, and it does this by providing a way in which disputes can be resolved according to known and agreed rules. It can also provide greater political stability without undermining the rights of people to take part in public affairs, express their different view points, and contribute to the wellbeing and stability of the society. The rule of law protects freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, but it also protects a government’s right to govern. The development of the rule of law has the potential to create broad structures of agreement that will bring greater stability, prosperity and freedom around the world.

Lord Soley also pointed out that democracycan also underpin established institutions that bring stability to society. It hardly needs saying here in the Emirates and in a lecture commemorating the great contribution made to this society by the late Sheikh Zayed that a respected government can be a force for good and one that binds society together. People do not only want freedom and justice; they also want stability and to have a love and respect for the nation in which they are citizens. Constitutional system is a unifying force and should not be underestimated in the contribution it makes to a happy and peaceful society.

As part of his program, Lord Soley also met Dr Abdulla Al Khanbashi, the Vice Chancellor of the UAEU, during his visit to the UAEU. They both exchanged thoughts on the areas of future cooperation between the two institutions in terms of the continuation of such lectures and in terms of publications that are concerned with the subject of the rule of law.

Lord Soley also visited the College of Law, where he met administrative and academic staff, as well as students from the College. He delivered a short talk to students on the topic, explaining the impact law has on people's life and the organization of the society. He then exchanged discussions and thoughts with law students on the rule of law.

 

 

 

Media Enquiries: media_enquiries@uaeu.ac.ae

 

 

Notes to Editors:

 

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU)

• 21^st Century research-based university, providing research solutions to support the UAE and, through its global partners, the wider world
• Founded in 1976 by HH Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan; the UAE’s first national university
• Chancellor: His Highness Sheikh NahayanMabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
• Ranked # 338 in the 2011/2012 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings
• Nine faculties:
  • Business & Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Food & Agriculture
  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Information Technology
  • Law
  • Medicine & Health Science
  • Science
• 12,279 students enrolled in 2010/11
• First PhD program in UAE national institution commenced in 2009
• Strong focus on providing specific research solutions and benefits to society − the new model of a 21^st Century university, furthering research as part of the global network of discovery and innovation
• http://www.uaeu.ac.ae   

 

 

 

 

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