Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has emphasised the responsibility of nations to uphold human rights through fair laws, transparency, and engagement with international mechanisms during his keynote address at the opening of the Commonwealth Asia Regional Workshop on National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-Up (NMIRF) and Human Rights Reporting on Monday in Malé.
Held from 1–3 December 2025, the workshop is organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Government of the Maldives. According to the ministry, the workshop provides a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capacity building on human rights reporting and Sustainable Development Goal follow-up, aiming to strengthen NMIRF structures across the region.
In his remarks, Minister Khaleel thanked the Commonwealth and OHCHR for hosting the event in the Maldives and welcomed delegates from fellow Commonwealth states, highlighting the shared commitment to human rights as fundamental to dignity and equality. He noted the duty of states to uphold these rights through fair laws, transparency, and active engagement with mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review and treaty bodies, reaffirming the collective commitment to integrating human rights into governance.
The opening session also featured speeches from Dr Justin Pettit, Acting Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Mr Adnan Cheema, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNDP Resident Representative. The three-day workshop brings together participants from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, and various Maldivian government agencies.
