President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has today ratified the 2nd Amendment Bill to the Judicature Act
(Act No. 22/2010). The Amendment was passed by the Parliament at the 6th sitting of its second session, on 14th June 2017. Following ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette.
Following the ratification of this amendment, the total number of judges on the High Court bench is now 11, composed of a Chief Judge and 10 additional judges.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has today ratified the 14th Amendment Bill to the Export Import Act (Act No. 31/79). The Amendment was passed by the Parliament at the 6th sitting of its second session, on 14th June 2017. Following ratification, the Act has been published in the Government Gazette.
The amendment brought to the Act reduces the duty charged from petrol and diesel to 5%. The change is now implemented following publication on the Government Gazette.
The Government of Japan donated Disaster Reduction Equipment worth 1100 million Japanese Yen, which is equivalent to approximately 153 million Maldivian Rufiyaa, to the Government of Maldives today.
The aid was received by the Commander of Fire & Rescue Services, Colonel Abdulla Zuhuree, at a ceremony held at Kalhuthuhkalaa Koshi this afternoon. The equipment is donated under the Japanese Non-Project Grant Aid.
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Maldives and Japan. Japan has been one of the biggest bilateral development partners of the Maldives. From human resources development to environmental protection, sustainable fisheries to communication and humanitarian, and reconstruction assistance in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2004, Japanese assistance has now virtually reached all corners of the Maldivian archipelago.
6 June 2017, Geneva, Switzerland;
The 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council commenced at Geneva, this morning. The Session will continue for 3 weeks, ending on 23 June 2017. The session began with Opening Remarks by Ambassador Joaquín Alexander Maza Martelli of El Salvador, President of the Council.
At the opening session, His Excellency Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay addressed the Council, which was followed by the oral update by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein speaking on the situation of human rights around the world.
During this 35th Council session, the Maldives will lead, along with a core group of other member, states, the Resolution on “Contribution of parliaments to the work of the Human Rights Council and its universal periodic review” and the Resolution on “Independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors, and the independence of lawyers”.
The Maldives as the Co-chair and on behalf of the “Friends of SIDS” group with Australia, will also lead a cross regional Joint Statement under Agenda Item 10, highlighting the importance of universal, equal and effective representation at the UN Human Rights Council and reiterating the vital role of the “Trust Fund established to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the work of the HRC” has played in this regard.
The Maldives delegation will actively participate at the session including delivering statements around a vast number of Agenda Items presented in the Program of Work for this session. This also includes the panel discussions, on enhancing capacity building in public health; unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents and human rights; the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women; and the annual thematic discussion on technical cooperation.
The Maldives priorities at the UN Human Rights Council include women’s rights, children’s rights, climate change and environment and, rule of law and democracy. The Maldives will actively enagage and co-sponsor a number of resolutions. Some of the key resolutions for the Maldives at this session are: violence against women, youth and human rights, climate change and human rights, protection of family, right to education, civil society space, political participation of women, and trafficking in persons.
The Maldives will be represented at the UN Human Rights Council by Her Excellency Dr Hala Hameed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The Maldives delegation includes Mr. Salim Waheed, Minister / Deputy Permanent Representative of Maldives to United Nations Office at Geneva, Mr. Hassan Hussain Shihab, Communications Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ms Aishath Shahula, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Maldives to United Nations Office at Geneva.
President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has established the Fuvammulah City Council, following the declaration of the island’s city status. The President has also established the Secretariat of the Fuvammulah City Council.
Following the President’s decision, and since the term of the current local councils of Fuvammulah Island have expired, President Yameen has abolished the councils and their respective secretariats, as listed below:
1. Fuvammulah Atoll Council and secretariat
2. Fuvammulah Atoll Dhadimagu Council and secretariat
3. Fuvammulah Atoll Dhiguvaadu Council and secretariat
4. Fuvammulah Atoll Hoadhadu Council and secretariat
5. Fuvammulah Atoll Maadhadu Council and secretariat
6. Fuvammulah Atoll Miskiymagu Council and secretariat
7. Fuvammulah Atoll Funaadu Council and secretariat
8. Fuvammulah Atoll Male’gan council and secretariat
9. Fuvammulah Atoll Dhoodigan Council and secretariat
After discussions with the cabinet, and as empowered by Article 56 of the “Decentralisation Act” (Act No. 7/2010), President Yameen has designated that the Fuvammulah City Council will get equivalent authorities and provisions as Malé City Council and Addu City Council.