Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim has issued a compelling call to action for the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), urging it to embark on a "new chapter" dedicated to providing the public with truthful and timely information.
The appeal was made during an extraordinary parliamentary session convened to grant approval on the President’s nomination to lead HRCM.
Emphasising the HRCM's foundational mandate to protect human rights in accordance with international standards, the Deputy Speaker underscored the critical need for the body to operate with complete independence.
He noted that while successive governments have the opportunity to appoint new members to the commission every five years, he firmly stated that no member should be politically aligned, asserting that impartiality is paramount for its credibility.
Identifying the rampant spread of false information as "one of the biggest problems facing Maldives," the Deputy Speaker positioned the HRCM as a vital part of the solution.
He specifically highlighted the commission's responsibility to take a leading role in disseminating accurate details regarding the health and status of individuals arrested during demonstrations, countering the swirl of rumours that often follow such events.
"In this age of social media, it is important that the work of the HRCM is done in a timely manner,” he said.
Nazim called for a more proactive and visible presence from the commission, including having members physically observe protests to understand the situation on the ground firsthand.