The 42nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council has commenced in Geneva, Switzerland.

While the session began on Monday, a Maldives delegation, led by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva Hala Hameed, will actively participate.

The session is set to continue for three weeks and will conclude on 27 September.

Reaffirming its commitment to continue to actively engage with the council, Maldives will deliver national statements under several agenda items throughout the span of the three weeks.

Also scheduled to deliver a statement under the Annual Discussion on Integration of a Gender Perspective, Maldives delegation will also engage in the Clustered Interactive Dialogue on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances and Truth as well as the Justice and Repatriation and Individual Interactive Dialogue with Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.

Important areas scheduled to be covered during the session include the issue regarding the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Northern Rakhine State alongside the deteriorating situation in Syria as well as the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

During the opening segment of the session, High Commissioner for Human Rights Madame Michelle Bachelet spoke on the human rights situation around the globe and the work being carried out in her office.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that she highlighted on the threats of climate change and called for strong national and international commitment for action.

The Maldives delegation includes Deputy Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva Hawla Didi, Fist Secretary at Permanent Mission of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva Shahiya Ali Manik and Desk Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Shujau.

Made up of 47 member states, the U.N Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the U.N system which is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights globally.