Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has met the delegation of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The delegation will be in Maldives from March 3 to 7. It is being led by Mona Rishwami, Chief of Rule of Law Division of the OHCHR.

During the meeting, Minister Shahid underlined the importance the government attaches to improving the democratic principles and the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.

They also discussed the positive developments for Maldivian democracy and human rights, and Minister Shahid reiterated the importance of renewed cooperation and engagement between the OHCHR and the Maldives and the readiness of the government in facilitating the visits of UN Bodies and Special Procedures Mandate Holders.

The meeting was attended by UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives Shoko Nada and Associate Expert at OHCHR, Chiaki Ota.

The purpose of the delegation’s visit is to get updates on the State Party reports to the treaty bodies, engagement with special procedures and the UN Human Rights Council and to assess how OHCHR can assist in the government’s efforts to improve human rights in the Maldives.

The delegation has met with cabinet ministers, government and independent institutions, including the presidential commissions on murders and enforced disappearances and prisons audit commission and detention facilities.

As part of this engagement, OHCHR has already agreed to provide a human rights advisor that would be based in the Maldives to advise and assist the government in fulfilling its human rights obligations.