Minister returns from UNHCR session

Foreign Minister Mohamed Asim has concluded his visit to Geneva for the United Nation’s 34th session of its Human Rights Council and returned to the Maldives on Wednesday.

Minister Asim had on Tuesday spoken at the session’s High-Level segment of session, where he said President Abdulla Yameen’s approach to maintaining rights in the Maldives was to empower its citizens.

Further, in reference to Maldives’ bid to run for one of the four seats on the council for 2018-2020, Asim said that the nation has a lot to contribute to human rights in Asia.

The vote will take place in September.

In contradiction to international news sources and organizations calling on the government to adhere to democratic principles, Asim said Maldives has been a leading voice for the ‘advocacy’ of human rights.

Asim had pledged further commitment to upholding ties with Denmark, United Kingdom, and Australia at the sessions side-line meetings.

Minister Asim had also called on Zeid al-Ra’ad Hussain, UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, assured Maldives' full cooperation on engagement with international partners 'consolidating' democracy, and briefed the commissioner on developments of human rights and governance in the Maldives.

Asim was accompanied by Shahiya Ali Manik, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Maldives had headed the Friends of SIDS, an informal group under the Universal Periodic Review, which gives representation to small island developing states in the Human Rights Council.

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