The 44th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) commenced at the Palais des Nations in Geneva yesterday. The session will continue for two weeks and conclude on 17 November 2023.
In line with the key policies and priorities of the Government of Maldives, the Maldives delegation will actively engage in this Session of the UPR and provide constructive recommendations. The fourteen countries under review are Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Canada, Cameroon, Colombia, Cuba, Djibouti, Germany, Russia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu and Uzbekistan.
The UPR is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each UN Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every four and a half years. This process allows each State under review the opportunity to report on actions taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome the challenges to the enjoyment of human rights. Furthermore, it enables fellow Member States to offer constructive recommendations on how the States can further improve their human rights obligations. Each State review is assisted by groups of three States, known as “Troikas”, who serve as rapporteurs. The Maldives, as a member of the Human Rights Council, has been selected to be represented in the Troika for the review of Azerbaijan.
The Maldives delegation for the 44th Session of the UPR will be led by His Excellency Dr Asim Ahmed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives, to the United Nations Offices in Geneva. The delegation will include Mr Adam Hamid, Counsellor; Aminath Shifaya Ibrahim, Counsellor; Ms Maryam Fathika Fayaz, Second Secretary; Ms Mizna Waheed, Third Secretary; and Mr Mohamed Raaidh Saeed, Attache at the Maldives Mission in Geneva.
The Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Offices in Geneva, His Excellency Dr. Asim Ahmed, in his capacity as the Vice President of the Human Rights Council, will chair some of the reviews during this session.
