Maldives Launches its Re-election Campaign in Geneva

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon, has kick-started the Maldives’ campaign for re-election to the Human Rights Council, in Geneva.

At the launching ceremony held at the Palais des Nations yesterday, the State Minister introduced the Maldives’ Story in which she narrated the country’s journey in the Council and the issues it had played a leading role in. She noted that the Maldives’ was the smallest country ever to sit on the Council but that it had never hesitated in taking strong positions on any issues including the controversial ones and in advocating for small states-related issues.

The Maldives had prioritised its term in the Council by focusing on women and children’s rights and the rights of persons with disability, had been a vocal campaigner for the prevention of torture, and brought the issue of the right of all to live in a safe and clean environment to the forefront of the Council’s debate. In its two-year term, the Maldives has also championed the issue of the inherent link between human rights and climate change and run consecutive and consensus based resolutions that had received support from all regions. In Mach 2012, the Maldives established an Independent Expert on Human Rights and Environment to contribute to the Council’s discourse and debates on the matter.

In her remarks yesterday, the State Minister committed the Maldives support to strengthening its infant democracy and to all nations undergoing democratic change around the world and noted the important role of the Council in this effort.

The launching event was attended by 150 delegates including visiting Ministers, Ambassadors, NGOs and UN Officials attending the Human Rights Council. The event was introduced by Ambassador of Maldives in Geneva, Iruthisham Adam.

The election to choose new members to the Council will be held in October / November 2013, at the 68thSession of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. At the 2010 elections, the Maldives received widespread support with 185 votes in its favour out of 192; the largest number of votes obtained till date at the Council elections.