Statement by Mohamed Aslam, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives On the occasion of Commonwealth Day

As we celebrate the Sixty-second Anniversary of the Commonwealth Day, it is important to note the role Maldives has been playing in the Commonwealth, and also at the developments we have achieved through Commonwealth partnerships and engagements. It is the aim of the Commonwealth Day to promote Commonwealth’s understanding on global issues, international co-operation and most importantly, to work to improve the lives of its citizens.

This year’s theme, “Women as Agents of Change” is timely, as last week we celebrated the hundredth anniversary of the first International Women’s Day. Women are the lifeline of any society, and through them one can gauge the state of affairs of a country. Maldives has not only been actively pushing for participation of women in our social, economic and political sector to accelerate the progress in our society but also been breaking new ground in its international commitments, having appointed the first female Secretary General to the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation, and the election of the first Maldivian to a UN Treaty Body.

In addition to the proactive role, Maldives is currently playing at the UN Human Rights Council; we are also seeking to engage with the international forum by expanding its current role in advocating for women’s rights, having announced its candidature for UN Women Executive Board from 2013 -2015.

Maldives truly believes its women as agents of change, and I would once again like to express my sincere wishes on this occasion not only to all Maldivian women, but also to everyone associated with the family of the Commonwealth, and I am confident that the cordial ties binding the nations of the Commonwealth would be further consolidated in the years to come.