Maldives is to put forward candidatures for membership as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2033-2034 and for membership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), for the term 2027-2029.

This decision was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

As such, the ministry revealed that it would be the first time Maldives becomes a member of both principal organs of the UN if successful.

The decision to contest in both elections come from the Maldivian government’s commitment towards strong international engagement in the multilateral arena, as a responsible member of the international community.

Maldives has successfully competed for elections to the Presidency of the seventy-sixth session of the UN General Assembly since 2018 and the United Nations Human Rights Council, for the term 2023-2025.

The government believes that despite Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Maldives being under-represented across the UN, Maldives has reliably proven that even the smallest of countries can make meaningful contributions at the highest levels of decision-making.

The Maldivian government remains confident in the archipelago nation’s ability to significantly contribute towards global discourse on international peace and security and sustainable development.

Mandated with the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council is the principal organ of the UN.

Further, it is also the highest decision-making body in the international system.

Mandated with the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the coordination, policy review and the formulation of recommendations on all economic, social and environmental matters, the ECOSOC is the principal organ of the UN.