Foreign Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel concluded participation in the High Level Segment of the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, using the platform to reaffirm the Maldives’ alignment with international human rights frameworks and signal continued engagement in multilateral processes.
Delivering the Maldives’ national statement during the High Level General Debate, Minister Khaleel reiterated the country’s commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and highlighted the role of multilateral cooperation and dialogue in advancing universal human rights standards.
On the sidelines of the session, the Minister held a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts and senior representatives from Angola, Cuba, Rwanda, Kyrgyz Republic, Slovakia, Iceland, Slovenia, San Marino, Russia, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission. The discussions centred on cooperation and shared priorities within international human rights processes.
Minister Khaleel also met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Director General of the International Labour Organization. During the meeting with the ILO, the Maldives formally deposited the Instrument of Ratification for the 1986 Amendment to the ILO Constitution, reinforcing its participation in international labour governance frameworks.
The Minister further took part as a panellist in a side event titled “Advancing Human Rights and Equality: Investing in Women’s Political Leadership in Multilateralism,” organised by the Permanent Mission of Slovenia and co-sponsored by the Maldives. The discussion focused on the role of women’s political leadership in shaping inclusive multilateral decision-making.
During the session, the Maldives also announced its candidature for election to the Human Rights Council for the 2028 to 2030 term, signalling its intention to play a more active role in the Council’s work and broader international human rights engagement.
