Human Rights Council Concludes adoption of resolutions on Human Rights Capacity-Building
The UN Human Rights Council has concluded its 21st session in Geneva, with the adoption of new resolutions: Safety of Journalists, Right to Truth, High Level Panel to Commemorate the Twentieth Anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and Elaboration of International Complementary Standards on Racial Discrimination.
The session, which began on the 10th of September with the Opening Statement of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights H.E. Navanethem Pillay, on the challenges of human rights around the globe, also deliberated on key thematic areas such as gender integration, children of armed conflict, truth, justice and reparation, water and sanitation and specific country situations that deserve more attention. In responding to the report of the High Commissioner, the Maldives updated the Council on the findings of the CONI report and reiterated Government’s commitment towards promotion of human rights and strengthening democratic institutions. The Maldives also thanked the High Commissioner for responding to the request of the Government to re-deploy the Human Rights Adviser.
The negotiation on the follow-up resolution on the Right to Freedom of Assembly and Association (FOAA) was the key initiative for the Maldives during this Session. The Maldives, as a member of the Core-Group of this resolution, worked with the United States to adopt the resolution by consensus. The resolution A/HRC/21/L.25, cosponsored by the Maldives, called upon States to respect and fully protect the rights of all individuals to assemble peacefully and associate freely. It also highlighted the importance of the freedom of peaceful assembly and of association to the work of the civil society actors.
Some of the key resolutions that were co-sponsored by the Maldives were Maternal Mortality, Water and Sanitation, Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of Hazardous Substances and Waste, Safety on Journalists, Transitional Justice, Right to Truth, Situation on Syria, Enforced Disappearances, and the Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building. Also during the session, the Maldives joined the Joint Statements on the issue of the High Level Panel on Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration, the Human Rights Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, on the Promotion of Standing Invitations to Special Procedures, and the Funding of the OHCHR. The Maldives renewed its call for a halt to Israel’s illegal settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and for the resumption of talks leading to a peaceful settlement.
Speaking at the end of the Session, Maldives Ambassador to the UN Offices in Geneva, H.E. Ms. Iruthisham Adam said: “The Maldives remains committed to deliver to its membership of the Council to promote human rights at home and abroad. In line with this standing position, we were pleased to support the resolutions on capacity-building and technical cooperation, water and sanitation, freedom of assembly, safety of journalists, on transitional justice and the right to truth - all these are very much relevant for the Maldives and will be used to promote human rights in the Maldives”.