Maldives presents resolution to strengthen the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States

01 April 2022

The Maldives as the co-pen holder together with Mauritius, presented the resolution at the 49th Session of the Human Rights Council entitled Strengthening the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the Work of the Human Rights Council. The work on this resolution was initiated in 2022 by a Core Group consisting of Maldives, Mauritius, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Marshall Islands, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Switzerland, and Turkey.

The Maldives introduced the resolution at the Human Rights Council on behalf of the core group. The resolution was adopted by consensus and made history with a record number of cosponsors. The resolution enjoyed co-sponsorship by more than 168 States, making it the most sponsored Human Rights Council resolution to date. This unprecedented level of support is clear evidence of widespread, global recognition of the value of universality, inclusivity, and diversity of the multilateral systems. The Maldives thanked the donors of the Trust Fund for their valuable contribution and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for their support in implementing the activities of the Fund over the years, and helping to achieve universal participation at the work of the council.

The Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund was established ten years ago in 2012 by a resolution put forward by Maldives and Mauritius as pen holders to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in the work of the Human Rights Council. This Fund was operationalized in 2014 with the goal of ensuring universal participation at every session of the Human Rights Council. The Trust Fund has supported beneficiary delegates from the Maldives in 2021, 2020, and 2016. The Trust Fund provides LDCs and SIDS including those without permanent representation in Geneva with the resources needed to engage meaningfully in the work of the Council. As of February 2022, the Trust Fund has supported the participation of a total of 173 delegates, namely 108 women and 65 men, from 71 LDCs and SIDS. The Fund offers induction training to beneficiary delegates as well as an e-learning tool that provides information on the rules, functioning and customary practices of the Council.

The resolution is the culmination of years of work, including the holding of four regional workshops in Malé, Georgetown, Nadi, and Ougadougou-Port Louis where States came together to discuss how to best strengthen the Trust Fund for future beneficiaries. In finalizing the resolution, the Core Group also held consultations with Trust Fund donors, member and non-member States, and representatives of Civil Society Organizations to obtain a diverse range of perspectives.

The resolution provides tangible suggestions to further strengthen the Trust Fund and enable the greater participation of states in the work of the Human Rights Council.

The adoption of this resolution is a landmark victory for the foreign policy of the Maldives. It reflects a global recognition of the importance of the perspectives of Small Island Developing States like the Maldives at multilateral fora and further strengthens the role played by the Maldives as a champion for the voiceless and underrepresented at the Human Rights Council.