Maldives proud to play a significant role at the 34th Session of the Human Rights Council
24 March 2017, Geneva, Switzerland
The United Nations Human Rights Council concluded its 34th Session today in Geneva. The delegation of the Republic of Maldives delivered 24 formal statements and actively participated in the negotiation of 41 resolutions and 1 decision, adopted during the concluding session of the council.
The session also confirmed the appointment of 7 mandate holders and adopted the report of the session.
The Human Rights Council began with the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council (HRC), which was held from 27 February to 2 March 2017. His Excellency Dr Mohamed Asim, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was accompanied by Ms Shahiya Ali Manik, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister Asim addressed the Council on 27 February 2017.
The Maldives delivered statements on thematic discussions covered in the Programme of Work of the Council, including those on the Annual Report of the High Commissioner and on Syrian Arab Republic, Myanmar, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Korea, Palestine and other occupied territories and other human rights situations that require the council attention. The Maldives also issued statements on the promotion and protection of human rights in relation to numerous issues, including adequate housing, human rights defenders, torture, violence against children, technical assistance and capacity building and in relation to the Universal Periodic Review and the adoption of reports of States reviewed.
During this Session, the Maldives along with a core group of states, including Barbados, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Mauritius, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Switzerland, and Turkey, led the resolution entitled “Promoting the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the work of the Council.” to support the participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the work of the Council. This Resolution received the support of, and was co-sponsored by over 113 countries.
The Maldives was also a member of the core group with Costa Rica, Morocco, Slovenia and Switzerland, on the Resolution on Human Rights and Environment and actively engaged in drafting the resolution. This resolution received cross regional support with over 60 other co-sponsors.
The Maldives was featured in three panel discussions; “The Interdependence of Human Rights and Biodiversity” represented on the panel by H.E. Dr Hala Hameed, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations at Geneva, Panel; on “Universal Participation to the UN Human Rights Council: Impact and ways of Reinforcement of the Actions undertaken with the Trust Fund for the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States” represented on the panel by Mr Jeffrey Salim Waheed, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations at Geneva and on the Panel on “Human Rights of Thalassemia Patients” represented on the panel by Dr Marium Jabyn, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Delegate to the 34th HRC Session.
In line with its key priorities at the UN Human Rights Council, the Maldives co-sponsored a number of resolutions, including those on human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, as well as the resolutions on Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Maldives also co-sponsored resolutions on adequate housing, human rights, democracy and the Rule of Law.
The Maldives also participated in several other side events including formal and informal engagements on the side-lines of the Human Rights Council.
The Human Rights Council consists of 47 State Members of the United Nations, and are elected for terms of three years. The Maldives is currently on a one year mandatory break from the Council, after two consecutive three year terms as a member from 2011-2013 and 2014-2016. However, given its success at the Council, and the country’s dedication to the promotion and protection of Human Rights, the Maldives has announced its candidacy for membership on the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2018-2020.
The Maldives was represented at the 34th Session by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives, H.E Dr Hala Hameed, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Office and other International Organisations at Geneva, along with Dr Marium Jabyn, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jeffrey Salim Waheed, Deputy Permanent Representative and Ms Aishath Shahula, First Secretary of the Maldives Mission in Geneva.