President reassures commitment to protect, promote human rights

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has reassured his government’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights in the country.

In his message to mark International Human Rights Day, President Solih highlighted that “these past years have sadly been marked by a culture of impunity and disdain for human rights in Maldives”.

Acknowledging the “hard work of human rights defenders both in Maldives and across the globe,” the President noted his government’s resolve “to restore the social, political and economic rights of the Maldivian people and stand up for human rights everywhere”.

While he was in Ukulhas island of Alif Alif atoll on Monday, President Solih told the island’s residents that his government will ensure human rights for all, adding that “there is no point” for him to remain in office if not.

He added that his government will not give anyone the opportunity to deprive anyone of such fundamental rights, whether in detention or otherwise.

Further noting that they cannot ensure the Maldives “that the people hope for” without providing these fundamental rights, President Solih said his government “will not crush the people’s hopes”.

He also noted that the administration of the country’s prisons system has been grossly neglected with the basic rights of prisoners violated on a systematic basis. The President also underscored that the Maldivian people have lost faith in the justice system.

Noting that this negligence by the past administration has resulted in the Maldives being labelled as "undemocratic," President Solih stated this had led to NGO Freedom House describing the country as "a partially free country" that neglects the individual rights of the people.

He concluded by emphasizing that his government will always protect human rights of each and every citizen, “from the very first day until the end.”