The Human Rights Council yesterday elected Dr. Salma Rasheed, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva, as Vice President of the Council for the remainder of 2025. She was nominated by consensus of the Asia-Pacific Group to represent the region.
This marks the third time the Maldives has held the Vice-Presidency of the Human Rights Council, following its appointments in 2013 and 2023. The Maldives has served on the Council during several terms, first from 2011 to 2013, again from 2014 to 2016, and most recently from 2023 to 2025.
As Vice President, Dr. Salma will join counterparts from Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Romania as part of the Council’s Bureau. The Bureau plays a key role in steering the Council’s work, including agenda-setting and coordination among regional groups.
The Maldives has positioned itself as an active voice in the Council, consistently advocating for the universality of human rights while promoting dialogue, cooperation, and consensus-building. Officials noted that the appointment of Dr. Salma underlines the country’s commitment to global human rights efforts and its ability to contribute constructively to multilateral processes.
