The 51st Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has commenced at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, bringing together Member States for a two week examination of national human rights records under the framework of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The session, which runs until 30 January 2026, will see the UPR Working Group review the human rights situations of thirteen countries: Australia, Austria, Georgia, Lebanon, Mauritania, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Oman, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Sao Tomé and Príncipe.
In line with its key policies and priorities, the Maldives is participating actively in the session, with its delegation engaging in discussions and offering constructive recommendations to all States under review. The government has said the engagement reflects its continued commitment to multilateral human rights processes and peer based dialogue.
The UPR is a State driven mechanism that provides all UN Member States with the opportunity to report on progress made in meeting their human rights obligations, while also receiving recommendations from fellow Member States. The process is conducted under a four cycle system, with the Fourth Cycle having begun in November 2022 and scheduled to conclude in 2027. The UPR Working Group convenes three sessions each year.
The Maldivian delegation to the 51st Session is led by Dr Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva, who is heading the country’s engagement at the session.
