The 40th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has concluded in Geneva with the active participation from Maldives.
Maldives actively contributed to the 4-week session that started on February 25 with the High Level Segment. The Delegation of Maldives delivered 21 formal statements and actively participated in the negotiation of the 29 resolutions adopted during the session. The UNHRC also confirmed the appointment of 4 mandate holders.
Maldives also delivered 2 joint statements at the session, which includes a statement on behalf of the newly formed 14-member Human Rights Council Membership Contact Group aimed at increasing membership of the small states at the council and a statement on behalf of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), highlighting the role of group at the multilateral engagements. Maldives is a member of these two groups.
The Maldives delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid. During his address on February 25, the foreign minister reiterated the commitment of Maldives to uphold basic human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Maldivians and the need to strengthen the democratic pillars in the country. He also renewed the standing invitation, Maldives had extended to all special procedures mandate holders to visit the country, including those who had previously requested to visit.
At the side-lines of the High Level Segment, Minister Shahid met with foreign ministers of other countries and high level dignitaries attending the session.
The regular session began on February 28 and the Maldives delegation delivered statements on an array of thematic discussions covered in the Programme of Work of the Council. Other statements delivered at the council include on the Human Rights Situation in Syria, Palestine and other occupied territories, Situation of Myanmar, as well as statements on violence against children, disabilities, adequate housing and environment and technical assistance and capacity building.
In line with its key priorities at UNHRC, Maldives co-sponsored a number of resolutions, including those on Rights of the Child, Human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Human rights situation in Syria, Human Rights Situation in Myanmar.
Furthermore, Maldives co-sponsored resolutions on recognising the contribution of environmental human rights defenders to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection, and sustainable development, Resolution on the Situation of human rights in the North Korea and the Resolution on Rights of the Child. Maldives also participated in several other side events including formal and informal engagements on the side-lines of UNHRC.
UNHRC consists of 47 state members of the United Nations and are elected for terms of three years.