Government of The Maldives has Appeared before The UN Committee Against Torture, to Comment on The Initial Report Submitted to The Committee by The Previous Administration
Malé and Geneva – The Government of the Maldives has appeared today for its review before the UN Committee Against Torture, the treaty body that oversees state compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Review is scheduled for the 27th and the 28th of November 2018.
The 9-member Delegation is led by Minister at the President Office, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Naseem, who is accompanied by Mr. Ibrahim Hameed, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Home Affairs, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen of Maldives Police Service, Ms. Aminath Nabeela Ibrahim Naseer, Associate Legal Counsel at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ms. Shahiya Ali Manik, First Secretary at the Embassy of Maldives in London, Ms. Aishath Shahula, First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr. Mohamed Aseel Hassan, Senior Legal Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Faena Fayyaz, Senior State Attorney at the Attorney General Office and Ms. Fathimath Shinaza, Legal Officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In his Inaugural Address on 17 November, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih spoke to all Maldivians when he proclaimed “The Maldivian people voted for the promise of justice and equality . . . Today we shall set sail with a reinvigorated vision to practice the rule of law within the constitutional domain . . . [and] to take back the rights that we have been denied.”
The appearance before the UN Committee against Torture presents the first serious opportunity to show the international community that the Maldives will again abide by its obligations under international law.
In previewing his Government’s presentation, President Solih said:
“While our constitutional protections and laws regarding torture have been improving, there has been a dramatic gap between these often illusory commitments and their implementation in practice, most especially over the last five years. The Committee Against Torture will see by our actions how seriously we take our commitments and we welcome their constructive engagement and recommendations.”
In commenting on his Delegation’s appearance before the Committee tomorrow, Minister Naseem observed:
“It is important to recall that our Government is going to be questioned about a report that was submitted by the prior Government. Our views of our country’s record in complying with the Convention diverges substantially from theirs, as will be highlighted in my Opening Statement and through our discussion with the Committee. More importantly, the Government’s resolve to end torture will also be shown by our making a number of specific, substantive, and meaningful new commitments to our people and to the Committee, even before the dialogue begins.”
The Government of the Maldives welcomes its forthcoming engagement with the UN Committee against Torture.
