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Delegation of Maldives actively participated at the 41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council

12 July 2019

The 41st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council concluded today in Geneva. The session was held from 24th June to 12th July 2019.

The Maldivian delegation delivered 7 national statements on an array of thematic discussions covered in the Programme of Work of the Council. In the respective statements, the Maldives delegation expressed concern on the deteriorating human rights situation in Syria, reaffirmed Maldives’ long-standing support and solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, and condemned the systematic violence against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The delegation also delivered statements during the interactive dialogue with the mandate for independence of judges and lawyers, the mandate for freedom of expression, and the mandate for freedoms of assembly and association. In addition, the delegation participated in a panel discussion on women’s rights and climate change.

The Maldives participated in the negotiation of 25 resolutions adopted during the session and co-sponsored a number of key resolutions, including the resolution on Right to Education, Climate Change and Human Rights, Youth and Human Rights, the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons and the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The Maldivian delegation was part of the core group that drafted the resolution on Freedom of Assembly and Association for the renewal of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association which had 71 co-sponsors and was adopted by the Council with consensus.

The Maldives also co-sponsored 3 joint statements and delivered one Joint Statement at the Council on behalf of the Group of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Geneva at the Annual Thematic Panel Discussion on Technical Cooperation in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. Two side events were co-organised by the Maldives during the session. The first side event was on Freedom of Association and Assembly with the theme “Time for Reflection”. This side event aimed to provide a broader perspective of these rights, hold a debate on the main challenges and opportunities, and to consider a way forward to obtain these freedoms. The second side event was on gender equality with the theme “Legislating for gender equality: Eliminating gender-based discrimination and violence by 2030”.

The Maldives was represented at the 41st Session of the UN Human Rights Council by Her Excellency Dr. Hala Hameed, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva, and Ms. Hawla Ahmed Didi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Maldives of Maldives.

ENDS