3rd Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review

36th Session of the UPR Working Group - Review of Maldives

Final Remarks by

His Excellency Dr. Asim Ahmed

Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva

6th November 2020

Thank you, Madam President.

Excellencies, Distinguished members of the Troika, Esteemed Delegates,

The Maldives Universal Periodic Review at this Third cycle has been extremely rewarding. We are grateful for this opportunity to present the progress we have achieved in the promotion and protection of human rights in Maldives as well as our plans and vision for the Maldivian people.

We are humbled by your acknowledgment of our efforts to instill respect for human rights. We are pleased with the positive feedback and encouragement by Member States of our efforts to build a rights-centric governance framework.

The Maldives also appreciates your recognition of our challenges and struggles. We note with gratitude, the calls of solidarity, the offers of technical assistance and the encouragement from the international community to assist the Maldives in combating climate change and other global issues that affect us.

We are particularly thankful to the Member States who sent us advance questions, and those who provided recommendations and highlighted our progress during the interactive session on 4th November.

Maldives deeply appreciates the guidance and efforts of the dedicated members of the distinguished Troika which includes the Republic of Togo, Armenia and Republic of the Philippines as the Rapporteur.

Maldives values the tireless and diligent efforts of the UN Human Rights Council, the UPR Working Group and in particular, the work of the UPR Secretariat in efficiently compiling the Report that we have successfully adopted today. In particular I wish to extend our sincere appreciation to you Madam President for your wise and effective stewardship of this review.

Madam President,

We have taken note of the comments of the international community, particularly the concerns about ensuring protection of child rights. We assure Member States and international parties, that perpetrators of violence against children will not go unpunished. Maldives reaffirms its commitment to eliminating gender-based violence, effective implementation of the legislative framework to promote gender equality and empowerment of women and will strive to improve the lives of persons with disabilities across the country.

Our Government is determined to deliver an impartial, just and efficient judiciary to the people of Maldives. We will continue to vigorously pursue the judicial reform agenda and our legislative agenda, to bridge the gaps in our legislative framework.

We will continue implementing multi-faceted, people-centered plans, to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and eliminate all influences that threaten our stability and our democratic values. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our developmental plans have been obstructed by a new set of challenges. In response to these emerging challenges, we have taken proactive measures to realign our priorities and remain committed to the path of development we have embarked. We are determined not to lose the gains we have achieved especially in protecting the rights of all, including the most vulnerable.

Madam President,

Maldives has had a preliminary deliberation over the recommendations received from the interactive dialogue.

In order to ensure wider consultation, and to chart a pragmatic way forward, the Maldives wishes to disseminate the recommendations to stakeholders, raise awareness on the significance of this process, and assess the resource implications of implementing the recommendations that are accepted.

Therefore, to pave way for a participatory and a holistic decision-making process, Maldives wishes to defer giving a position on the recommendations and will revert with our positions before the 46th Session of the Human Rights Council.

Madam President,

We hope this review has been as enriching for the Member and Observer States, as it has been for the Maldives. From preparation of the National Report to the actual engagement during the session, the UPR has enabled better institutional collaboration at home, and allowed us to reflect on areas that require specific attention.

We believe that it is the implementation of the recommendations between each UPR session, that bears the fruits of this process. We look forward to implementing the recommendations over the next 4 and a half years, and on that note, I am proud to announce that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, has yesterday, endorsed the establishment of the National Mechanism for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-up in the Maldives.

Finally, on behalf of the Head of Delegation and myself, I would like to thank the Maldivian National Standing Committee for UPR, for their numerous efforts for a successful review of the Maldives at this Third cycle of UPR.

I Thank you.