Defense Minister addresses the First Meeting of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

5 June 2007

The Minister of Defense and National Security, Honourable Ismail Shafeeu has said that the Government of Maldives has undertaken important work in preparation for the consequences of climate change. He said this in a statement delivered at the First Meeting of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction which was held in Geneva from 5 to 7 June 2007.

In his statement, he also said that being a small island State, Maldives, and its people are facing grave dangers due to climate change, sea level rise and global warming. Moreover, he highlighted that these grave dangers were realized in the Maldives following the 2004 December tsunami.

He further stated that a National Disaster Management Center has been established, under a legal framework, to explore the extent of damages caused by the Tsunami, and to deal with the rebuilding of the country. He also said that efforts are in place to put forward a bill on Disaster Management to the People’s Majlis, during this year. Similarly, he said that 5 year national Development Plan includes provisions on reducing the impact of such disasters.

Minister Shafeeu concluded his statement by expressing his gratitude for the continued support from the United Nations and other International Organizations, as well as the international community in general, towards the efforts of the Government of Maldives on disaster reduction and rebuilding the nation.

Maldives Unveils World’s First Virtual Embassy
25 May, Geneva & Second Life:

The Maldives this week (22 May) became the first country in the world to open a Virtual Embassy in Second Life, the online virtual world.

The Maldives Virtual Embassy will soon be followed by embassies representing Macedonia and the Philippines. Sweden has also announced plans to open a Virtual Embassy.

The Maldives Virtual Embassy is located in the Diplomatic Quarter of Diplomacy Island in Second Life, an on-line space designed to allow new avenues for diplomatic representation and negotiation, especially for small and developing countries that have limited diplomatic outreach in the “real” world. Diplomacy Island is the brainchild of Diplo Foundation, a non-profit organisation which works to assist developing countries participate meaningfully in international affairs.

The official inauguration ceremony (22 May) took place simultaneously in the real world (Geneva) and in the virtual world (Second Life), with participants in both “place” and “space” able to watch the speeches, interact with each other, and explore the Maldives Embassy and the rest of Diplomacy Island.

The ceremony included addresses by Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President Designate of the UN General Assembly (speaking via the internet from New York), Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Mr. Ambassador Walter Fust, Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Mr. Philip Rosedale, CEO of Linden Labs and Founder of Second Life (speaking form Silicon Valley), and Dr. Jovan Kurbalija, Director of Diplo Foundation.  

Speaking ahead of the opening ceremony, which was hosted by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, the Maldives Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla Shahid emphasized how information technology and particularly the internet can be harnessed by small countries to help them participate meaningfully in international relations:

“The Maldives is a small country but that does not mean we do not have a valuable contribution to make in international affairs. The Maldives is well known as a tourist destination, but we are also a country that has experienced rapid economic, social and political development over recent years; while our vulnerability to sea-level rise has put us at the forefront of the global debate on climate change. The Virtual Embassy offers another channel for us to provide information on the country, to offer our viewpoint on issues of international concern, and to interact with our partners in the international community. I warmly welcome anyone interested in the Maldives to pay us a visit in Second Life”.

Echoing these sentiments, Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President Designate of the UN General Assembly said “Modern diplomacy should follow the changes of today's world. One of the main and most profound changes is the development of the internet and new forms of communication. Diplo’s virtual diplomacy initiative, with Diplomacy Island and Virtual Embassies, heralds new developments in diplomatic practice.”

DiploFoundation’s Director and concept leader of Diplomacy Island, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija, noted that “the core of diplomacy is communication. When communication changes – as is happening now – diplomacy must adjust”. He also expressed his hope that Diplomacy Island will go some way towards addressing the “image deficit” of diplomacy. “In the modern world, thousands of museums celebrate wars and military victories, however there are no museums dedicated to diplomacy” he noted.

Second Life has 6.2 million users and has already become an established home for real-world companies (such as Toyota, Nike and General Motors), media outlets (e.g. Reuters, BBC Radio One), and universities (e.g. Princeton and Harvard).

Ministry of Health Delegation Concludes Visit to Geneva

Geneva, 25 May 2007

A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Health concluded, Thursday, their visit to Geneva during which they participated in the 60th Session of the World Health Assembly (14-23 May) and also met key Geneva-based stakeholders involved with global health issues.

The delegation was headed by Hon. Mr. Ilyas Ibrahim, Minister of Health, and also included Dr. Abdul Azeez Yoosuf, Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Sheena Moosa, Director General of Health Services, and Mr. Ahmed Khaleel, Assistant Director General.

During the visit, the Minister of Health delivered a keynote address to the plenary of the World Health Assembly and also held a meeting with Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organisation.

The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization. It meets in Geneva in May each year, and is attended by delegations from the 193 Member States. The main function of the Health Assembly is to determine the policies of the Organization.

In its 60th session, the Health Assembly discussed a number of public health issues and adopted two key resolutions on pandemic influenza preparedness and public health, innovation and intellectual property. Other issues discussed included the application of the International Health Regulations; smallpox eradication; non-communicable diseases; better medicines for children; and progress in the rational use of medicines.

The Health Assembly also adopted resolutions on the technical and administrative work of WHO and approved the largest-ever budget for the Organization.

Government Reports Progress to UN Child Rights Committee

Wednesday 23 May 2007, Geneva

A high-level Government delegation today reported to the United Nations on progress in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the Maldives. The delegation, headed by the Minister of Gender and Family, Hon. Ms. Aishath Mohamed Didi, informed the United Nation’s Committee on the Rights of the Child that considerable progress has been made in the promotion of children’s rights over recent years, but also conceded that much remains to be done to ensure the full realisation and enjoyment of those rights in the Maldives.

The Maldives ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991 – one of the first countries in the world to do so. Under the Convention, the Maldives is obliged to report to the CRC Committee (made up of eighteen independent experts on child rights) every five years on progress achieved and difficulties encountered in implementing the provisions of the Convention.

At the start of the meeting, the Minister of Gender and Family provided a brief introduction in which she stressed the Government’s commitment to protecting children’s rights and outlined some of the country’s many achievements in the area. For example, she informed the Committee that “wherever children live, a primary school exists. Maldives has almost 100% enrolment in primary education up to Grade 7, and the gender gap with regards to enrolment in secondary and higher education has almost evened out”. In the field of health, Ms. Didi informed members of the Committee of significant reductions in maternal and infant mortality over the reporting period.

Notwithstanding these and other achievements, the Minister offered a frank and objective appraisal of shortcomings in the Maldives, and in that regard warmly welcomed the opportunity to discuss those shortcomings with the CRC Committee and to seek the advice and recommendations of its members. “The State Party reporting process” argued the Minister “allows introspection, room to examine our understanding, commitment and performance as a nation”.

Offering examples of these shortcomings, the Minister noted that “since ratifying the CRC, the Maldives had struggled to provide adequate services for children in need of protection, despite legislation stipulating that such services were basic rights for Maldivian children”. She also acknowledged institutional weaknesses in dealing with children with disabilities: “children with disabilities have minimal access to schooling and other public services since there are very few specialised services to cater for their different needs”. The quality of education (which the Minister referred to as a “basic right for Maldivian children”) was a further area identified as requiring improvement. The Minister noted the need to enhance the quality of primary and secondary education, which the Ministry of Education is addressing by promoting an online curriculum and teacher training directed through new Teacher Resource Centres located in each atoll.

Acknowledging these shortfalls, the Minister noted that the current process of democratic and human rights reform in the Maldives offers an unparalleled opportunity to pursue the advancement and protection of the rights of children. For example, she reported that efforts are underway to incorporate the CRC in Maldivian domestic legislation through, for example, the Juvenile Justice Bill, the revised Penal Code, the Employment Bill and the Police Bill. She further noted that the Family Law, which greatly impacts on children, is expected to be revised by the end of 2007. The Minister invited members to visit the Maldives to witness and contribute to these profound changes. In particular, the Minister suggested that members of the CRC Committee could participate in the upcoming National Child Protection Conference.

Following her introduction, members of the Committee spoke in turn to warmly welcome the Maldives’ frank and open approach to the work of the CRC Committee, and then began an interactive dialogue with the Minister and other members of the delegation.

In his concluding remarks at the end of the session, the CRC Committee’s rapporteur for the Maldives, Mr. Kamal Siddiqui, thanked the Maldives for “a very fruitful discussion, undertaken in an open, frank and self-critical manner”. He concluded that “the Maldives has come a long way in improving the situation for children in the country, but much remains to be done. The Committee offers its best wishes to the Maldives and its children”.

Following today’s meeting; the CRC Committee will draft and publish concluding observations and recommendations. The Government will publish these observations in the Maldives in order to engage the nation, including civil society, in constructive and unified action to realize children's rights.

The Maldives delegation includes representatives of the Ministry of Gender and Family, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Permanent Mission of the Maldives in Geneva. The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives and children rights NGO’s participated as observers.

Maldives Government Hosts Workshop on Prevention of Torture

Male’, 24 April 2007: Between April 24-26, the Government of the Maldives will co-host a major human rights workshop in Male on “Implementing the UN Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol in the Maldives: challenges and opportunities” alongside its partners from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT).

The Workshop is being organised by the Government, the HRCM and the APT as a means of ensuring the effective implementation of core international instruments in the area of torture prevention.

On 15 February 2006, the Maldives became one of the original twenty signatories to the United Nations’ Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). Following on from the Maldives’ accession to the Convention against Torture in April 2004, ratifying the OPCAT demonstrated the Government’s absolute determination to prevent any and all incidences of torture – one of the most serious violations of a person’s fundamental rights - on its territory. The Maldives remains one of only two countries in the Asia-Pacific region to have ratified the Optional Protocol.

The OPCAT is the first international instrument which seeks to prevent torture and other forms of ill-treatment though the establishment of a system of regular visits to places of detention carried out by independent international and national bodies.

Following the official entry into force of the OPCAT in the Maldives in June 2006, the Government requested the Association for the Prevention of Torture, one of the main international architects of the new mechanism, to conduct a workshop in the Maldives in order to help the country fully and successfully implement the provisions contained in the OPCAT and related agreements.

The overall objective of the Workshop is to “prevent torture and ill-treatment in the Maldives through the sound implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol”. This will be achieved by, inter alia: raising awareness among relevant national bodies about the Convention against Torture and its Optional Protocol; looking at ways to improve implementation of these conventions; working with relevant national and international bodies including the HRCM, the Jail Oversight Committee, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish and operationalise an effective National Preventative Mechanism; and developing effective methodologies for detention monitoring.

A wide range of stakeholders from government, Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, and civil society attended the Workshop which was funded by the Division of International Public Law of the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Asia-Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions.

Government calls on MDP to engage with Constitutional talks

Male’, 23 April 2007 (Monday) – The Government today called on the MDP to demonstrate its commitment to reform by formally agreeing to participate in the proposed Commonwealth-sponsored constitutional conference. Looking forward to the end-of-May Roadmap deadline for completion of the draft Constitution, the Government expressed its disappointment that the MDP had recently preferred to use the unfortunate death of Mr. Hussein Salah as an excuse for unsubstantiated attacks on the Government, rather than engage in positive dialogue on the crucial issue facing the Maldives today, namely the revision of the country’s Constitution.

Reflecting on the events surrounding the death of Mr. Hussein Salah, Chief Government Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said:

“The post mortem, which conclusively demonstrates that Mr. Salah died by drowning, offers an opportunity for the MDP to pull back from the politics of rumour and accusation, and to re-engage with the Government as a responsible party of Opposition.

Now is a crucial time for the Maldives. The people of the Maldives as well as the outside world are watching closely as we approach a key milestone in the Reform Agenda – to compile and table a new draft Constitution before the People’s Special Majlis by 31st May.

Thanks to the good offices of the Commonwealth, a window of opportunity – the proposed Constitutional Conference - is now open that will allow us to meet this deadline and in-so-doing respond to the needs and wishes of the people of the Maldives. The DRP has already agreed to attend this internationally-facilitated Conference in order to create a new, modern constitution of which we can all be proud. It is now up to the MDP to show a similar level of commitment by also agreeing to attend the Conference”.

Maldives Government Urges Global Action on Climate Change

Male', 18 April 2007 (Wednesday): The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid yesterday addressed the UN Security Council in New York.

Recalling the famous speech by H.E. President Abdul Gayoom to the United Nations General Assembly in October 1987 which saw the Maldives take a global lead in drawing the world’s attention to climate change and the particular vulnerabilities of Small Island developing states, Mr. Shahid noted that twenty years on, it is time for the international community to renew its efforts to tackle climate change and its consequences.

He explained that dealing with the consequences of man’s impact of the climate, such as rising sea-levels, is already a fact-of-life for people in the Maldives: “today, over 60 percent of inhabited islands [in the Maldives] are facing varying degrees of coastal erosion, which is physically threatening the human settlements that live on them”.

Yet despite these mounting difficulties, Mr. Shahid delivered an upbeat assessment of mankind’s ability to rise to the challenges facing it, saying: “we are encouraged by the increasing awareness of the issue and are optimistic that these positive developments will lead to a greater commitment from the international community to deal with the matter. This debate in the United Nations Security Council should stress the fact that close cooperation and coordination among all principal organs of the UN is indispensable in order to enable the body to remain relevant and capable of meeting existing, new and emerging threats and challenges”.

The State Minister highlighted the Maldives’ own efforts to ensure that economic growth and development is achieved in a sustainable way but warned that ensuring environmental sustainability is not a challenge the Maldives can meet alone. He thus called on all Member States of the UN to promote sustainable development policies and in particular urged “rich nations to demonstrate leadership on this issue and also accept a moral responsibility to protect vulnerable countries from the damaging effects of climate change”.

Concluding his address to assembled delegates from around the world, Mr. Shahid recalled another of President Gayoom’s keynote speeches on climate change - to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg: “what we need to do is simple - put our words into deeds. The only question that has to be answered is: do we have the will? I put the question to you once again: do we have the will?”

Government of Maldives requests deputation of UN Advisor on Human Rights

Monday 9 April 2007

The Government of Maldives today requested the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, based in Geneva, to depute a UN Advisor on Human Rights to the Maldives.

The request was made in a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Ahmed Shaheed addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Louise Arbour.

The Advisor, who will reside in Male for an initial period of one year, will advise the Government, representative bodies and national human rights institutions on how best to promote UN normative values, enhance legal frameworks and judicial capacity, and develop the national capacity of protection machinery, including its ability to meet international reporting obligations.

The mandate also covers liaising with and providing support to civil society organizations engaged in the promotion and implementation of UN normative values in human rights, including encouraging dialogue between government authorities and civil society.

The advisor will also provide operational support to human rights training and/or national capacity building.

The role of the Advisor also includes advising the UN Resident Co-ordinator on strategies to build and strengthen national capacity and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights.

UN Expert Presents Report on Freedom of Religion in the Maldives

Issued by the Permanent Mission of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva

27 March 2007 (Tuesday)

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ms. Asma Jahangir, today presented a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva following her visit to the Maldives from 6 to 10 August last year. In her report, Ms. Jahangir welcomed the fact that national unity and harmony are highly prized in the Maldives, and noted the important role of religious identity in that regard. At the same time however, she noted that laws designed to protect religious and therefore national unity should not have the unintended consequence of discriminating against other religions.

Presenting her report, the Special Rapporteur noted that: “The Maldives has traditionally been recognised as a moderate Islamic country. The Government has placed great importance on preserving and promoting religious unity within the country, a concept which it regularly links to that of national unity. The Special Rapporteur notes that the Government receives widespread support amongst the population, and from the opposition parties, on this issue”.

Ms. Jahangir went on to voice her concern that while the country’s emphasis on national unity is to be admired, in some cases this unity has become equated with religious homogeneity. Thus some laws which have been implemented to preserve religious and national unity have the potential to violate freedom of religion or belief, especially in the case of certain vulnerable groups including migrant workers and foreign persons in detention.

In order to protect against this possibility, Ms. Jahangir welcomed the Roadmap for the Reform Agenda “including the strengthening the system of governance, enhancing the independence of the judiciary, enhancing the role of the media and strengthening civil society”, and in addition, recommended a series of other steps that the Maldives should consider taking to further strengthen the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Responding to the Special Rapporteur, Ambassador Hassan Sobir, the Maldives’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, thanked Ms. Jahangir for her report and noted that her visit was the first to be carried out by a Special Procedures mandate-holder to the Maldives. This follows the Government’s decision, in April last year, to extend an open invitation to all UN human rights Special Rapportuers to visit the country. Ambassador Sobir went on to express the Government’s hope that sustained cooperation with Special Procedures will ensure that the international community both understands and recognizes the democratic reform process in the Maldives, and contributes to that process by ensuring that all new laws and practices conform to international standards.

Ambassador Sobir informed the Human Rights Council that the Maldives is a moderate and peaceful Islamic country with a proud Islamic heritage stretching back almost 900 years. He stressed that the Maldives has always attached great importance to maintaining national unity and harmony, and that Islamic belief and identity have played and continue to play a crucial role in that respect:

“It is of paramount importance to the Government of the Maldives to maintain our Islamic heritage and identity and to protect the national unity and harmony that flow from it” said Ambassador Sobir. “The current challenge facing the Maldives is therefore to preserve our identity and unity while at the same striving to conform to international standards”.

UNDP Expert Sets Out Vision for Maldives Constitution

23 March 2007 (Friday):

Article from Minivannews.com

Professor Douglas Schmeiser arrived in Malé as a UNDP constitutional expert in October 2006. He will leave on April 21 and is determined that a draft constitution will be in place for submission to the Special Majlis.

Minivan News interviewed the Professor on Thursday to learn how he has gone about his task. We left with a vision of how the Maldivian constitution could be an example to others.

Constitution to reflect “Islamic tradition and culture”

Schmeiser says that a good constitution must be “based on good governance and reflect international standards”. However it must also reflect the “history, language and culture of a people”.

For the Maldives this means a constitution that compliments the “Islamic tradition and culture of the country.” Schmeiser understands that without this, the “process can not succeed”.

In order to find this recipe, Schmeiser has been “prepared to meet with anyone” to “educate himself” about the country and its people. He wants Maldivians to feel a sense of ownership of “their constitution”, and welcomes the opportunity to discuss his work with English and Dhivehi journalists alike.

“Political support essential”

Much of Schmeiser’s work has been with the People’s Special Majlis, the body charged with drawing up a new constitution. In particular he works closely with the Drafting Committee.

Schmeiser is diplomatic about the Special Majlis’ progress towards a constitution. He “would have been happier if the Drafting Committee had worked more diligently but it is starting to work faster”. Schmeiser gives credit to the Majlis for reaching the “home straight” of the process within six months.

But Schmeiser also stresses the important role that the two major parties, the Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party and Maldivian Democratic Party, must play. He welcomes the decision by the MDP and DRP to nominate Husnu Suood and Mohammed Naseef to discuss the constitution.

Schmeiser has accepted an invitation to participate in these talks. And thinks that “political support is essential for the acceptance of any constitution.”

Professor Schmeiser also sought to ease fears that the DRP-MDP talks would undermine the work of the Drafting Committee. However he echoed the warnings of the Committee Chairman Ibrahim Ismail and DRP Convenor Aneesa Ahmed, that the DRP-MDP talks should not produce a separate draft constitution. Rather he hopes the parties will “lend their weight to what has already been accomplished.”

An example to other nations

Professor Schmeiser believes any new constitution should learn from the “experience of other countries in finding acceptable solutions to similar problems”.

But he also thinks the Maldivian constitution will be unique. It will be the first democratic constitution in an Islamic state, and, Schmeiser hopes, “an example for other countries with large Muslim populations”.

The Maldivian constitution will be one of the first to guarantee protection of the environment, and in stronger terms than any predecessor. Schmeiser has included as a basic human right, “the right to live in a healthy and ecologically diverse environment”. And he places responsibilities on both the Government and individuals to maintain the environment.

If Professor Schmeiser’s vision comes true, the Maldivian constitution will overcome two of the major challenges facing the world today; combining Islam and liberal democracy; and reconciling individual rights with protection of environment.

Minister of State reasserts Government’s commitment to meeting the roadmap deadlines

14 March 2007 (Wednesday): The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, today used an address before the Human Rights Council of the United Nations to emphasize the Government’s continued commitment to meet the key deadlines laid down by the Roadmap for the Reform Agenda, and to hold multi-party elections under a new constitutional and democratic settlement by the end of 2008.

Speaking in front of the President of the Council, Ambassador Luis Alfonso De Alba, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour, and assembled Ministers from around the world, Mr. Shahid said that the Maldives is embarked on a sweeping programme of constitutional, democratic and human rights reforms, and that, when completed, it will engineer a political transformation to match the economic and social developments achieved by the country over the past thirty years.

Mr. Shahid also said that the key tenet of the reform agenda is that it should take place in full cooperation with rather than in isolation from the international community, and that the Universal Periodic Review mechanism is an extremely important tool to realize these ambitions.

Mr. Shahid updated the Council on recent developments in implementing the reform programme and said that the Government is committed to completing the new constitution by the end of May 2007. He also assured the Council that the Government remains optimistic that the deadlines set by the roadmap can be met paving the way for multi-party elections.

During his visit to Geneva, Mr. Shahid met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr. Don McKinnon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Dr. Per Stig Moller, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Choi, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Petritsch, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva, Ambassador Fernando, and Representatives of the Asia-Pacific Unit of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Minister of State Shahid meets with IPU Secretary-General

14th March 2007, Geneva

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, yesterday (13th March) met with the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mr. Anders B. Johnsson in Geneva to discuss the democratic reform agenda and possible IPU assistance to the Maldives.

The Minister of State described recent developments in the People’s Majlis and People’s Special Majlis, and particularly updated Mr. Johnsson on the current cross-party talks taking place to speed up constitutional and wider democratic reforms. Mr. Johnsson expressed his strong support for the talks and for cross-party dialogue more broadly, as the best way of speeding up work on the new constitution and of adopting key reform Bills.

The meeting also offered an opportunity for the State Minister to follow-up with Mr. Johnsson following the latter’s recent visit to the Maldives. Mr. Johnsson expressed his pleasure at being able to meet such a wide cross-section of Maldivian society during his visit and confirmed that following his mission, the IPU are considering ways in which they might offer to help both the Majlis and Special Majlis with their important work.

At the end of the meeting, the State Minister thanked Mr. Johnsson for his visit and for the IPU’s interest in developments in the Maldives. He expressed the Government’s pleasure at the positive cooperative relationship that exists between the Maldives and the IPU and stressed the Government’s support for deeper IPU engagement in the country.

Foreign Minister Salutes Mariya Didi on Women’s Award

5 March 2007 (Monday)

Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed has saluted Ms Mariya Didi on being awarded Woman of Courage award by US Secretary of State. The Foreign Minister’s comments were conveyed in a press statement issued today to the local newspaper, Miadhu.

'I salute and congratulate Ms Mariya Didi on being conferred the Woman of Courage award. All her compatriots share her joy on winning such recognition for the Maldives. The award to her highlights the importance the international community attaches to those who are working for reform in the Maldives, and is a matter of encouragement to all reform-minded persons.

'The President attaches great importance to the advancement and empowerment of women. The strongest opposition that the President’s Reform Agenda encountered when it was proposed in June 2004 was over the proposal to scrap the gender bar in contesting the presidency.

'I hope Mariya’s success will encourage other educated women to enter politics, and that it will foster a climate more supportive of the government’s drive to empower women.

'I am confident that continued international attention on the reform activities in the Maldives will encourage more and more people to pursue reform through peaceful and lawful means and within internationally-accepted norms.’

Before winning an elected seat in the Majlis in 2005, and joining the Opposition MDP, Mariya had served in the same Majlis as an appointee of the President. Four of the eight appointees of the President are women. Only two women hold elected seats in the Majlis.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Welcomes Progress;
Stresses Importance of Implementing International Human Rights Instruments

Male’, 5 February 2007 (Tuesday) – The President of the Maldives, H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has received a letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Ms. Louise Arbour, in which she welcomed recent positive developments in the area of human rights protection and stressed the importance of implementing commitments at the national level.

The note came in response to a letter sent by the President to Ms. Arbour, in which he provided an overview of major developments in the Maldives during 2006 and re-emphasised the Government’s commitment to oversee further progress in the promotion and protection of human rights in 2007.

In her letter, the High Commissioner drew particular attention to the importance of the national Human Rights Commission which has now begun its work with a full membership. Ms. Arbour noted that “a strong and independent national Human Rights Commission is of utmost importance in ensuring the protection of human rights at the domestic level”.

The High Commissioner also welcomed the Maldives’ ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The ICCPR and the ICESCR are the two core international treaties guaranteeing individual human rights and liberties. The Maldives officially acceded to the two Covenants on 19 September 2006. Entry into force occurred automatically three months later meaning the fundamental rights of all Maldives citizens are now protected through international law as well as through the Constitution. At the same time as acceding to the ICCPR and ICESCR, the Maldives also acceded to the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, as a result of which individuals can now petition the UN Human Rights Committee if they feel that they have not been able to obtain a domestic remedy for any violation of their rights.

Ms. Arbour also identified the Maldives’ ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) as an “equally welcome initiative”. The OPCAT, which establishes the first ever international system of detention monitoring, was adopted by the United Nations on 18 December 2002 and formally entered into force, with the twentieth State ratification, on 22 June 2006. The Maldives was one of the 20 original members States of the OPCAT, having formally acceded to the instrument on 15 February 2006. The Maldives remains the only country in Asia to have ratified the Optional Protocol.

Ms. Arbour concluded her letter by stressing the importance of the effective implementation of these and other new commitments at the national level and stressed that her Office is ready to assist the Maldives in this regard during 2007.

Speaking after the receipt of the letter, Chief Government Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef, said:
“The Maldives took a number of very important steps during 2006 to bring itself into line with international human rights standards. We are pleased that these efforts have been recognized but also agree with Ms. Arbour that the hard work has only just begun.

By signing-up to key international human rights treaties like the ICCPR, the Optional Protocol to ICCPR, ICESCR and OPCAT, we have laid down a clear and unambiguous course for the future. It is now up to all stakeholders in the Maldives to work together to ensure that we reach our goals and in-so-doing create a fair and just society in which human rights are fully respected and protected. In this regard, the Government welcomes the High Commissioner’s continued support and looks forward to working closely with her Office, and particularly the proposed OHCHR Human Rights Advisor for the Maldives, during 2007. “

Notes to editors:
§ For inquiries, please call Mohamed Hussain Shareef, Chief Government Spokesman, on (+960) 7773394.

Maldives Offers to Host New UN Human Rights Office

19 January 2007

The Government yesterday (18 January) sent a letter to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) officially expressing the Maldives’ interest in hosting a proposed new OHCHR Regional Office for South and West Asia.

While the exact mandate and activities of the new Office are yet to be finalized, broadly speaking it will aim to strengthen the OHCHR’s human rights engagement with regional governments by tailoring human rights activities and dialogue to local needs and specificities.

The Maldives strongly supports the establishment of such an Office, which it sees as an important step towards enhancing engagement, dialogue and understanding between the Maldives and the international community in the field of human rights and democratization. A key premise of the Maldives’ reform agenda is that is should proceed with the full involvement of experts from relevant international organizations.

Speaking about the proposed Regional Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ahmed Shaheed said:
“The establishment of an OHCHR Regional Office for South and West Asia would be a tremendously positive step for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Maldives and across the rest of the region.

Although international human rights instruments are negotiated and signed in New York, Geneva and other centers of multilateral diplomacy, in the end they must be implemented and enforced at the local level and be sensitive to local specificities. This in turn requires on-the-ground engagement between international human rights bodies such as the OHCHR and local stakeholders such as governments, national human rights commissions and NGOs. It is with this truth in mind that the OHCHR is expanding its network of country and regional offices; and such moves are to be applauded by all those who seek to improve the enjoyment of human rights and individual liberties in South and West Asia.

The Maldives is particularly well placed to understand the importance of this local-level engagement with the international community. Seeking the involvement and advice of external experts has been a key characteristic of the current democratic reform programme. Regular visits to the Maldives by, inter alia, UN legal-constitutional experts and academics, fact-finding missions from the EU and elsewhere, UN human rights Special Rapporteurs, and international NGOs; all bear witness to our commitment to engagement with the international community. By putting ourselves forward as a possible location for the new OHCHR Regional Office, the Maldives is once more demonstrating this commitment.

Wherever the Regional Office is finally based, the Government looks forward to working with it, and with the planned OHCHR country representative for the Maldives, to improve human rights promotion and protection in the country and the region”.

“We must complete our journey to democracy together, regardless of political partisanship”, President Gayoom

2 January 2007

In a year-end letter to world leaders and key stakeholders in the post-tsunami recovery programme and the democratic reform agenda, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has emphasised the importance of forging partnerships and consensus in the ongoing efforts to usher in a modern democracy in the Maldives.

The President expressed his firm hope and belief that 2007 would see a rapprochement between all political parties in the Maldives, and the emergence of a new pluralist consensus on the way forward. He also hailed 2006 as a year of change, progress and recovery in the country. The President noted that 2006 had seen accelerated progress in his democratic reform agenda. Highlighting that Maldivian democracy was far stronger now than it had been a year ago, he added the country remained well on track to meet its ultimate goal of multi-party elections in 2008.

Elaborating on development in 2006, the President noted the publication, in March 2006, of the Roadmap for the Reform Agenda. Pointing out that the People’s Special Majlis had concluded debates on all the Chapters of the new Constitution, the President said that, provided that the momentum could be sustained, the Majlis would remain on course to concluding its work within the timelines set out in the Roadmap.

In the letter, the President noted that 2006 had proven a year of unprecedented progress in the area of subscribing to international human rights standards. He recalled that the Maldives had joined the ICCPR, its Optional Protocol and the ICESCR, in 2006. He also expressed his satisfaction that the Maldives as the 12th country to ratify OPCAT, had been able to play a meaningful role in creating a credible international mechanism to prevent torture. Focusing on domestic developments, the President emphasised that the Human Rights Commission received new statutory powers during 2006. He also expressed his confidence that the legal framework and mechanisms of the first liberal democracy in the Maldives would be completed during the cause of 2007.

Thanking international stakeholders for their support towards democratic progress and tsunami recovery, the President said that this continued interest had spurred all reform-minded Maldivians on, and encouraged the Government to redouble its efforts to ensure a peaceful transition to a modern, liberal democracy.

In the letter, the President expressed his deep appreciation to former US President Clinton for his tireless efforts to help the Maldives rebuild its economy and infrastructure. The President highlighted that 2000 had seen the recovery to more than pre-tsunami levels of the tourism industry. Emphasising that much remained to be done in terms of the repair and reconstruction of houses and rebuilding infrastructure, he noted however that a great deal had already been achieved in getting lives and livelihoods back to normal. Further, he expressed his satisfaction that despite the devastation caused by the tsunami, the Maldives remained on course to attaining the Millennium Development Goals. The President said that the Government was pleased by the pledges of support made at the first annual Maldives Partnership Forum convened with development partners, especially as the country progressed towards its graduation from the LDC list. He also noted that the strong emphasis laid on capital formation in the Government Budget for 2007 approved by the People’ Majlis last week, reflected the country’s determination to achieve a paradigm shift in the status of economic development.

Open Letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs

31 December 2006

To All Our Friends across the Globe,

2006 has been a year of change, progress and recovery in the Maldives. So, as the year draws to a close, I am writing with three purposes in mind.

Firstly, I would like to thank you all for your continued interest and support in our country. The Maldives is a small, remote nation, with little influence on world affairs. And yet we are fortunate enough to have a large group of friends, supporters and advocates across the globe. Secondly, I would like to look back at the major developments and milestones that 2006 has seen take place in the Maldives. And thirdly, this letter looks forward in anticipation of further progress to come in 2007.

We began 2006 still suffering the economic effects of the Indian Ocean tsunami, which had wrought such destruction on our country one year previously. But now, a year further on, our tourism industry - the mainstay of our economy – has recovered to more than pre-tsunami levels. Tourism figures continue to increase, as the Maldives successfully demonstrates to the world that we are a resilient, as well as beautiful, nation.

In the context of our recovery from the Tsunami I am compelled to mention the tireless efforts of President Bill Clinton, who has just completed his term as the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to tsunami affected countries. President Clinton’s devotion to our country and to helping us to rebuild our homes, our fishing industry and our tourism sector are tremendously appreciated.

We are gratified by the response that we have received from all our development partners to the tsunami recovery programme, to assist us build back better. Although much remains still to be done, in terms of the repair and reconstruction of homes and rebuilding of infrastructure, a great deal has also been achieved in getting lives and livelihoods back to normal.

I am particularly happy that, despite the devastation caused by the tsunami, we are on course to attaining the Millennium Development Goals. The government is pleased by the strong pledges of support made at the first annual Maldives Partnership Forum convened with our development partners in June this year, especially as we progress towards the graduation of the Maldives from LDC list. Our own determination to achieve a paradigm shift in the status of our economic development is reflected in the strong emphasis laid on capital formation in the government budget for 2007 approved by the parliament last week.

Alongside our economic recovery, 2006 has seen accelerated progress in the democratic reform agenda proposed by President Gayoom in June of 2004. Political parties, brought into being by Presidential decree in July of 2005, continue to mature and to establish themselves as vehicles of democratic expression. It is testament to the rapidly evolving nature of our political parties that representatives from both government and opposition were able to come together in the latter half of 2006 at Westminster House, the residence of the British High Commissioner, to talk around the issues relating to our democratic transition, and to seek common ground.

As a result of this common ground, Maldivian democracy is far stronger now than it was a year ago, and we remain well on track to meet our ultimate goal of multi-party elections in 2008. 2006 saw the publication, in March of this year of the Roadmap for the Reform Agenda, a new cornerstone document which sets out goals and timelines for our democratic transition.

One of the major blockages to the progress of this reform agenda has, hitherto, been the pace at which the Special Majlis, our Constitutional Assembly, has been able to operate. However, during the year, the Special Majlis has concluded debates on all the chapters of our new Constitution and, provided that the momentum can be sustained, the Special Majlis will remain on course to conclude its work within the timelines set out in the Roadmap.

I firmly believe that this democratic progress could not have been achieved without the support of our international friends. This continuing interest has spurred all reform-minded Maldivians on, and encouraged us to redouble our efforts to ensure a peaceful transition to a modern, liberal Islamic democracy.

I have always been ready to acknowledge that there have been historic deficiencies in the Maldives’ implementation of international human rights standards. But again, 2006 has proven a year of unprecedented progress in this area. We end 2006 as a new State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and to its Optional Protocol, and to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). I am particularly pleased that we, as the 12th country to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, have been able to play a meaningful part in creating a credible international mechanism to prevent torture.

Our Human Rights Commission has received new statutory powers during 2006, and will begin 2007 with a full complement of members ready and equipped to investigate cases brought before it. And, in perhaps the most significant development and signal of our commitment to international human rights norms, the two Maldivians who began 2006 designated by Amnesty International as Prisoners of Conscience, end the year as free individuals.

Finally, 2006 saw the opening of the Maldives Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. The opening of this Mission underlines two of our key policy priorities, both foreign and domestic, namely the promotion of international trade and the establishment of internationally-recognised human rights norms and standards in the Maldives.

And what of 2007? It is my firm hope and belief that 2007 will see a rapprochement between all political parties in the Maldives, and the emergence of a new pluralist consensus on the way forward. We must complete our journey to democracy together, regardless of ideology or political partisanship.

On human rights issues, we shall be working with the Office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner and the Commonwealth Secretariat in developing and pursuing an action plan to attain the human rights standards prescribed in the two Covenants to ensure that good progress is made by the time the first Country Reports are submitted in December 2007.

I expect that the legal framework of the first ever liberal democracy in the Maldives will be completed next year. Maldivians will also vote in 2007 in a referendum on our future system of government – perhaps the most crucial step yet on our path to elections in 2008.

The vision of a liberal democratic Maldives, pursued by President Gayoom, requires the attention and the engagement of the international community in order to maximise the opportunities for Maldivians for a better quality of life, free from want and free from fear. In 2007, and beyond, we will seek a higher level of interaction with the international community for trade, tourism, investment and assistance.

In closing I would like to wish all our friends, in all countries, a peaceful and prosperous 2007, and to thank you all once again for your continuing support.

With best wishes and warm regards,

Yours sincerely

Ahmed Shaheed
Minister of Foreign Affairs

UN Human Rights Council President Congratulates Maldives on
Entry into Force of Core International Covenants

31 December 2006

The Government of the Maldives today received a letter from the President of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Ambassador Luis Alfonso de Alba, congratulating it on the decision to accede to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and recognizing the entry into force of the two Covenants on 19 December.

The ICCPR and the ICESCR are the two core international treaties guaranteeing individual human rights and liberties. The Maldives officially acceded to the two Covenants on 19 September. Entry into force occurred automatically three months later meaning the fundamental rights of all Maldives citizens will now be protected through international law as well as through the Constitution. At the same time as acceding to the ICCPR and ICESCR, the Maldives also acceded to the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, as a result of which individuals can now petition the UN Human Rights Committee if they feel that they have not been able to obtain a domestic remedy for any violation of their rights.

In his letter, President de Alba recognized the importance of the entry into force of the two Covenants and went on to congratulate the Government “for such as important step taken by your country for the improvement of the promotion of human rights”. President de Alba went on to reiterate his full support for the efforts of the Maldives Government to improve human rights protection and promotion, particularly vis-à-vis the domestic implementation of the provisions contained in the two Covenants.

Speaking upon receipt of the letter, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said:
“I am grateful to the President of the UN Human Rights Council for his words of encouragement. The continued support and assistance of the Human Rights Council and the International Community would be crucial for the successful implementation of President Gayoom’s reform agenda, a centrepiece of which is compliance with international standards on human rights protection.

I am already in touch with the UN system and the Commonwealth Secretariat on accelerating the steps to be taken to ensure domestic compliance with our international commitments.

We end the year on a high note, and with eager anticipation of continued progress in the year ahead.”

Key Human Rights Instruments Enter in Force in the Maldives

Tuesday 19 December 2006

“The only democracy worthy of its name is a liberal democracy where respect for human rights is at the heart of governance—human rights protection is the centerpiece of the President Gayoom’s Reform Agenda,” says Foreign Minister Shaheed

Male’, 19 December 2006: Two key human rights instruments, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enter into force today in respect of the Maldives.

The Maldives acceded to the two Covenants on 19 September 2006 when President Gayoom presented the instruments of accession to the UN Secretariat in New York.

Speaking to the press today, the Foreign Minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed said:
“The only democracy worthy of its name is a liberal democracy where respect for human rights is at the heart of governance -- today marks only a beginning but nonetheless a historic milestone. The fundamental rights of the people of the Maldives will now enjoy not only protection under the Constitution of the country, but will also enjoy the force of international law.
“The latter becomes particularly important as we have also acceded to the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR as a result of which individuals can petition the UN Human Rights Committee if they feel that that have not been able to obtain a domestic remedy for any violation of their rights”, said Shaheed.

The Maldives must submit a report to the UN Human Rights Committee on steps taken to implement the Covenant in the Maldives during the first year of their application to the Maldives, and follow-up reports every four years.

The Maldives is in consultation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for obtaining the services of a resident Human Rights Advisor in the Maldives in implementing the key human rights instruments.

“The Maldives supports international mechanisms for the protection of human rights and welcomes the plans of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to base a Human Rights Regional Office in South Asia,” said the Foreign Minister.

“Human rights protection is the centerpiece of the Reform Agenda being pursued by President Gayoom—the early accession to these two Covenants demonstrates that commitment,” said Shaheed

In recent months, compliance with international standards on human rights protection has become a high priority for government policy, as was also demonstrated by the Government’s advocacy of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture under which yesterday, in Geneva, the UN established an international mechanism to prevent torture. The Maldives narrowly missed inclusion in the ten member Subcommittee on Prevention which failed to elect a single candidate from Africa or Asia.

Maldives Welcomes Establishment of Top UN Torture Prevention Body

Monday 18 December 2006

The Government today welcomed the election, by States Parties to the UN’s Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), of the ten-person international Subcommittee on Prevention, which it hailed as a historic step forward in efforts to prevent incidences of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment around the world.

The OPCAT was adopted by the United Nations on 18 December 2002 and formally entered into force, with the twentieth State ratification, on 22 June 2006. The Maldives was once of the 20 original members States of the OPCAT, having signed the instrument on 14 September 2005 and formally acceded on 15 February 2006. The Maldives remains the only country in Asia to have ratified the Optional Protocol.

The OPCAT establishes the first ever international system of detention monitoring. Under the OPCAT, an international preventative body – the Subcommittee for Prevention – will work with national preventative mechanisms (NPMs) to regularly monitor (including through unannounced visits) places of detention in all States Parties. Based on their findings, the bodies will make recommendations to national authorities for improvements in the treatment of detainees and in the conditions of detention.

The first meeting of the 29 States Parties to the OPCAT was convened earlier today (18 December) at the Palace of Nations in Geneva. The main task of the meeting was to elect the ten members of the first international Subcommittee on Prevention from among the candidates put forward by the States Parties. The ten who were elected are as follows: Argentina, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Mexico, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

The newly elected Subcommittee is expected to hold its first session in Geneva from the 19 to 23 February 2007.

Speaking after the meeting, Chief Government Spokesman Mohamed Hussain Shareef said:
“Today is an historic day for the prevention of torture in the Maldives and around the world.
The election of the Subcommittee on Prevention represents the most important torture prevention initiative since the UN Convention Against Torture and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture came into force 19 years ago.
For this reason, the Maldives is proud to be one of the original States Parties to the Optional Protocol and to have taken part in today’s first ever meeting of OPCAT members. Both points reflect the high-level of importance that the Government attaches to the prevention of torture and to the broader promotion and protection of human rights.
The Government’s goal is to attain the very highest standards of torture prevention and we welcome international and national scrutiny of our progress towards that goal by the Subcommittee and the national preventative mechanism respectively.
The Government would also like to take this opportunity to wish the new Subcommittee every success in its important work”.

ENDS

*The 29 States Parties to the OPCAT are: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Georgia, Honduras, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Senegal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

Foreign Ministry convenes Human Rights Day forum

Sunday 10 December 2006

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a discussion forum last night at the Convention Centre (Dharubaaruge) to mark Human Rights Day 2006.

The Panelists who led the discussion were President of the Human Rights Commission Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Member of the Independent South Asian Commission for Poverty Alleviation Ms. Aneesa Ahmed, Attorney-General Dr. Hassan Saeed, and the Indian High Commissioner in the Maldives, Mr. AK Pandey.

Foreign Minister Dr. Ahmed Shaheed made introductory remarks while the High Commissioner of Bangladesh Mr. M Qayesh moderated the discussion.

Introducing the meeting, the Foreign Minister said that the centerpiece of the Reform Agenda was compliance with international norms of human rights protection. He also said that one’s freedom was safe only to that extent that one was able and willing to defend the freedom of those in opposition.

He further said that the emergence of illiberal democracies in certain parts of the world and the situation in Iraq may have created a backlash against democracy promotion at the global level, but that the overall positive trend in favour of freedom was a source of encouragement for the pro-democracy lobby.

The Attorney General spoke about personal experiences in carrying forward the reform agenda, and expressed concern that unless reforms were institutionalized, the positive gains under the Reform Agenda could be rolled back once the authors of the reforms departed.

The President of the Human Rights Commission, Mr. Ahmed Saleem noted some of the positive steps taken in human rights protection in the Maldives, but also noted continuing issues of concern. He pledged vigilance and perseverance by his Commission in pursuing greater human rights protection in the Maldives.

ISACPA Member and Minister at the President’s Office Hon. Ms Aneesa Ahmed spoke on this year’s Human Rights Day theme of fighting poverty as an obligation rather than charity. She noted the scale of the challenge faced by South Asia and the Maldives, as well as the gains that have been made in a number of areas. She pointed out that issues of gender and poverty remained at the heart of human rights protection.

The Indian High Commissioner Mr. AK Pandey spoke about human rights from an international perspective, noting both cultural relativism and universality. He stressed the role of political culture and the crucial importance of liberal values in ensuring that democracies upheld human rights.

The Bangladesh High Commissioner noted the importance of a holistic approach to human rights and of the recognition that all states had to continuously work to ensure that progress was being achieved in meeting the standards set forth in international human rights instruments. He said that peace was not merely the absence of war, but was related to the realization of the fundamental rights of the people.

The function was attended by a number of Ministers, members of the diplomatic community, the media, human rights defenders, non-governmental organizations, and political activists from a broad spectrum of opinion.

Foreign Minister Updates Human Rights Council on Reform Agenda

Thursday 30 November 2006

The Foreign Minister, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, yesterday (29th November) addressed the Third Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to update members on progress with the Maldives’ reform agenda. The speech came at the end of a two-day visit to Geneva during which the Foreign Minister met with the President and Vice-President of the Council, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

In his speech to the Human Rights Council, Dr. Shaheed explained that the Maldives, like all countries, faces important challenges; “but that what distinguishes and defines the Maldives is the country’s willingness to recognise these challenges and it’s determination to tackle them”.

The Minister went on to list recent achievements on the road to completion of the reform agenda, as defined by the Roadmap. These included, inter alia: the creation of an independent national human rights commission that is compliant with the “Paris Principles”; accession, in September this year, to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its Optional Protocol, and to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the tabling in June of a new, completely revised and updated Penal Code and of a new Sentencing Bill; the tabling in October of a revised Bill introducing a new Criminal Procedure Code; the establishment, in August, of a Police Integrity Commission to increase public confidence in the Police Service.; the establishment, last November, of a Judicial Services Commission to ensure the independence of the judiciary; the establishment a legal framework for the registration and functioning of political parties; and the tabling, in March, of the media reform package.

Dr. Shaheed went on to express his hope that the long list of developments would provide the Council with a sense of the scale of what the Maldives is trying to achieve: “The Maldives is a Least Developed Country, with a population of 300,000, a small civil service and a limited financial and technical resource base. Yet despite these constraints, we are attempting nothing less than the complete democratic transformation of our country in a little over four years – the kind of transformation, I would argue, that has taken many larger and more developed countries decades if not centuries to complete.”

The Foreign Minister concluded by stressing the Government’s resolution to oversee the successful conclusion of the reform programme, but reminded the Council that the Maldives cannot do this alone: “The size and complexity of the task demands close cooperation between the Maldives and the international community, including the Human Rights Council”. “For our part, the Government stands ready to engage with the Council, in an open, constructive and positive manner” he said.

Responding to Dr. Shaheed’s speech, the President of the Human Rights Council, Ambassador Luis Alfonso De Alba, said that the Council was happy to hear about the wide range of positive developments in the Maldives, offered the Council’s support in the country’s endeavors, and wished the Government success in its efforts to complete the reform programme according to the timetable laid down by the roadmap.