UN to review Maldives’ human rights record, AG Usham heads to Geneva

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to review the Maldives’ human rights record this week under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, a key global process designed to assess the human rights practices of all UN member states.

The Maldives’ fourth UPR session will take place in Geneva on Wednesday and will be webcast live. The country is among 14 nations scheduled for examination by the UPR Working Group during its ongoing session from November 3 - 14.

Previous reviews of the Maldives took place in November 2010, May 2015 and November 2020. The process requires states to report on progress made since the last review and to address ongoing concerns and recommendations.

Attorney General Ahmed Usham is leading the Maldivian delegation to Geneva, where the government is expected to present its national report and respond to international scrutiny over the country’s human rights commitments and shortcomings.

The UPR process draws on three primary sources: the state’s own report, findings from independent UN experts and human rights treaty bodies, as well as submissions from civil society groups and national human rights institutions. This structure is intended to provide a comprehensive, transparent assessment of each country’s record.

For the Maldives, the Dominican Republic, Marshall Islands, and Romania have been designated as rapporteurs responsible for compiling the outcome report and recommendations.

The UPR Working Group, comprising 47 member states of the Human Rights Council, will finalize and adopt its recommendations for the Maldives on November 14. These recommendations will test the government’s stated commitment to upholding democratic principles, addressing rights violations and ensuring accountability, areas where progress has often lagged behind official pledges.