Foreign minister Dr Ahmed Shaheed travelled to Geneva on Thursday to announce the Maldives’ intention to run for a place on the United Nations Human Rights Council in elections this May.
Shaheed has said the human rights reforms which have taken place in the country over recent years and the government’s role in the council, where it is currently an observer, makes the Maldives an “extremely well-known and well-respected player in the international human rights community.”
The announcement was made during a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay.
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental organisation consisting of 47 states committed to consolidating the promotion and protection of human rights globally.
The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 to address human rights violations and issue recommendations.
Shaheed added both state and non-state organisations had urged the Maldives to stand for the Council.
On 23 March 2009, Shaheed received a letter from four human rights NGOs including the Asia Forum for Human Rights and Development, and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, recommending the Maldives submit its candidacy.
In their letter, representatives from the NGOs notes the UN General Assembly selected candidates based on their commitment to promote and protect human rights.
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1 comment:
Dhivehi Resistance,
Oh great, the UN becomes an even bigger joke, by letting in another Islamist strong hold!
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