40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council concludes

The 40th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded on Sunday, after a four-week session.

A Maldivian delegation “actively” participated at the session, and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid had traveled to Geneva, Switzerland in February to attend the High-Level Segment of the Human Rights Council.

Addressing the Council on February 25, Minister Shahid reiterated Maldives’ commitment “to uphold basic human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Maldivians, and the need to strengthen the democratic pillars in the country.”

While the Maldives delegation also met with his counterparts from other nations during the trip, they also renewed the standing invitation extended to all special procedure mandate holders including those that had previously requested to visit the country, said the foreign ministry in a statement issued on Sunday.

The regular session of the Council commenced on February 28, and the Maldives delegation delivered statements “on an array of thematic discussions covered in the Programme of Work of the Council.”

“The other statements delivered includes the, Human Rights Situation in Syria, Palestine and other occupied territories, Situation of Myanmar as well as statements on violence against children, disabilities, adequate housing and environment and technical assistance and capacity building,” said the ministry.

It also noted that the Maldives “was positively mentioned by the United Kingdom,” who welcomed the country’s “constructive engagement with the international community and steps taken since elections to strengthen democracy, governance and rule of law.”

UK also encouraged the Maldives to “seek support from OHCHR and UN human rights mechanisms to build a democratic, tolerant society.”

The foreign ministry further highlighted that the Maldives had co-sponsored a number of resolutions at the session, including those on Rights of the Child, Human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Human rights situation in Syrian Arab Republic, Human Rights Situation in Myanmar.

Maldives also co-sponsored new resolutions which it had previously not; this includes, resolution on recognizing the contribution of environmental human rights defenders to the enjoyment of human rights, environmental protection, and sustainable development, Resolution on the Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Resolution on Rights of the Child.

The Maldivian delegation also participated in several other side events during the month-long session, including formal and informal engagements on the side-lines of the Human Rights Council.