United Nation (UN) Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin briefed the government and stakeholders on her the findings of her visit to the Maldives.

The Special Rapporteur concluded her ten-day visit to the Maldives on Tuesday and a debriefing session was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The debriefing session was chaired by the Maldivian Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Latheef.

During the session, Foreign Secretary Lathef expressed gratitude to the Special Rapporteur for visiting the Maldives after accepting the Government’s standing invitation .

The Special Rapporteur expressed her gratitude to the Maldivian Government for extending the invitation and for the cooperation and support provided to her and the team throughout their visit.

The Special Rapporteur provided an overview of the preliminary findings of her visit and expressed willingness to provide full support and expertise to the Government in addressing these challenges.

She acknowledged the Government’s achievements and noted the enormous challenges the Government faces in addressing various human rights-related issues facing the Maldives.

Foreign Secretary Latheef reaffirmed the Special Rapporteur, about the Maldivian Government’s commitment to engage with the international community and the UN human rights mechanisms.

The debriefing session was attended by senior officials from Government ministries and relevant stakeholders.

The Special Rapporteur will present her report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2023, at the Council’s 52nd session.

The Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights holds a Special Procedures mandate of the UN Human Rights Council that was established in April 2005 by the former Commission on Human Rights. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur has been extended by the Human Rights Council multiple times, most recently on 12 April 2022, for a further period of three years