The Maldives attended the 59th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday. The session will continue until 9 July.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, opened the session with a statement outlining the current global human rights landscape.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Maldivian delegation will deliver national statements under several agenda items, aligned with the government’s core policies. In collaboration with the Core Group on the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Association, the Maldives will also present a resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
The Maldives has voiced concern over the increasing number of human rights violations worldwide, including in its capacity as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. During this session, the Maldives will address a number of these issues, including delivering national statements during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar. The delegation will pay particular attention to the humanitarian crisis in Palestine, which will feature across various agenda items.
Ambassador Dr Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva, leads the Maldivian delegation to the 59th session. The delegation also includes Counsellor Adam Hamid, Counsellor Uza. Aminath Shifaya Ibrahim, Second Secretaries Aishath Rayahyn and Amr Danyal Shamoon, and Attaché Raaidh Saeedh from the Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the United Nations Offices in Geneva.
The Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental body within the United Nations system, plays a central role in promoting and protecting human rights globally. It addresses human rights violations and makes recommendations through a multilateral platform. Comprising 47 Member States, the Council currently includes the Maldives as a member, with its term running until 2025.
