HRCM monitors media coverage, protests demanding justice for Yumnu

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has confirmed that they are conducting both on-site monitoring of protests and monitoring of media coverage for the demonstrations taking place in the capital Malé City since 23 April 2025.

HRCM has revealed that these efforts are carried out under the commission's mandate to protect and promote human rights during protests. In addition to this, under its oversight mandate, the commission is also monitoring how the Maldives Police Service (MPS) is handling the situation related to the issue.

In carrying out these tasks, HRCM states that the commission needs to be an impartial entity, and that this should be clear and evident to the public and all stakeholders.

Under the principles followed by National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) worldwide, employees of such institutions should refrain from participating in activities that may lead to conflicts of interest, according to HRCM. Similarly, HRCM employees have been instructed to avoid participating in activities that could result in conflicts of interest.

This is because participating in such activities in a personal capacity could affect the credibility of the commission's work. HRCM says that the measure is being taken to maintain the ethical standards of the commission's role and to ensure that all of the commission's work remains impartial and in line with international standards.