The 28th session of the UN Human Rights Council which was held from 2-27 March concluded last Friday. Aas a member of the council, the Maldives participated actively in the Panel discussions, debates and the negotiations on a number of key human rights issues during the session. The general session was preceded by the high level segment, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Dunya Maumoon also delivered a statement on national priorities relating to human rights.
The Maldives along with Costa Rica, Switzerland, Slovenia and Morocco, led the Resolution on Human Rights and the Environment, which was adopted by consensus. This resolution extended the mandate of the Independent Expert on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable Environment as a Special Rapporteur for additional three years. At the time of adoption the resolution enjoyed the co-sponsorship of over seventy countries.
In line with its key priorities at the UN Human Rights Council, the Maldives co-sponsored 12 resolutions including Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of law, Rights of persons with disabilities and the resolution entitled ‘The continuing grave deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic”.
The Maldives further engaged in the debates on important human rights country situations such as that of Palestine and the Syrian Arab Republic. During the Interactive Debate with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian the Maldives reiterated its call on Israel to stop the grave human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories particularly in the Gaza strip, and to lift the blockade on Gaza. The Maldives also strongly condemned all violations of international law in Syria and also expressed its deep concerns over the strong-hold gained by the group calling themselves the Islamic State in the north-eastern part of the country, and condemned its barbaric actions that directly conflicts with Islam.
A total of 34 resolutions and two presidential statements were adopted during this session of the UN Human Rights Council and a number of key human rights issues were debated. The Maldives was represented at the session by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Offices in Geneva.
Maldives actively engages at the Human Rights Council
