Maldives reaffirms support to UN Human Rights High Commissioner

The Maldivian government has reaffirmed its support to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, in carrying out her mandate.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the Maldives participated in the 24th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“The Maldives responded to the opening statement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, welcoming her commitment and that of her office, and reaffirming the support of the Maldives in carrying out her mandate.”

The ministry said that the Maldives hopes to engage actively during the session on a number of important human rights issues, and that it is closely following the issue of the rights of the child, rights to freedom of assembly and of association, the role of prevention in human rights promotion, civil society issues, safety of journalists and other key areas which falls within the Maldives’ own human rights framework.

Furthermore, during the session, the Maldives hopes to engage constructively with all countries concerned, and will also be undertaking lobbying efforts for its re-election to the Human Rights Council for which elections will be held in New York in November 2013, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Maldives is being represented at the session by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations Offices in Geneva.