The 38th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council commenced in Geneva, this morning. The session will continue for three weeks, and will end on 6th of July 2018. Similar to previous sessions, the Maldives delegation will actively engage in this session. The Maldives will contribute to panel discussions and interactive dialogues as well as participate at the discussions of some the key resolutions during the session.
Additionally, the Maldives will cosponsor three side events at this session. In this regard, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Her Excellency Dr. Hala Hameed will participate as a panellist at the side event cohosted by Maldives and Morocco, on the role of women entrepreneurship in the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the promotion of women’s economic and social empowerment.
Ambassador Hala Hameed will also participate in the panel discussion on child rights education co-hosted with Philippines and UNICEF. The Maldives as a core group member of the resolution ‘contribution of parliaments’ will cosponsor and contribute to the side event on increasing parliaments’ engagement with human rights by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the core group of Human Rights Council resolution on contribution of parliaments.
The Maldives as the Co-chair and on behalf of the “Friends of SIDS” group along with Australia, will also lead a cross regional Joint Statement under Agenda Item 10, highlighting the importance of universal, participation at the UN Human Rights Council. The Joint Statement will reiterate the vital role of the “Trust Fund established to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the work of the HRC”.
The Maldives, as part of Regional and political Groups including the OIC and Non-Aligned Movement, has shared concerns of the human rights atrocities that are escalating around the world and will address some of these concerns as well as in its endeavours to promote and protect human rights for all. In this regard, the Maldives will deliver a statement on the discussion on the issue of human rights situations in the Syrian Arab Republic, Palestine and on the Rohingya Muslim minorities in Myanmar.
The Maldives priorities at the UN Human Rights Council include women’s rights, climate change and environment, and, rule of law and democracy. The Maldives will actively engage and co-sponsor a number of resolutions. Some of the key resolutions for the Maldives at this session are: violence against women, discrimination against women, climate change and human rights, and trafficking in persons.
The Maldives will be represented at the UN Human Rights Council by Her Excellency Dr Hala Hameed, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Maldives delegation includes Mr. Jeffrey Salim Waheed, Deputy Permanent Representative of Maldives to United Nations Office at Geneva, and Ms. Aishath Shahula, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Maldives to United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Maldives has served as a Member of the Council for 2 conservative terms of 6 years until 2016. Maldives is currently an observer member of the council. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system, made up of 47 members who takes the responsibility for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.
