UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Welcomes Progress

Male’, 5 February 2007 (Tuesday)– The President of the Maldives, H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has received a letter from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Ms. Louise Arbour, in which she welcomed recent positive developments in the area of human rights protection and stressed the importance of implementing commitments at the national level.

The note came in response to a letter sent by the President to Ms. Arbour, in which he provided an overview of major developments in the Maldives during 2006 and re-emphasised the Government’s commitment to oversee further progress in the promotion and protection of human rights in 2007.

In her letter, the High Commissioner drew particular attention to the importance of the national Human Rights Commission which has now begun its work with a full membership. Ms. Arbour noted that “a strong and independent national Human Rights Commission is of utmost importance in ensuring the protection of human rights at the domestic level”.

The High Commissioner also welcomed the Maldives’ ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The ICCPR and the ICESCR are the two core international treaties guaranteeing individual human rights and liberties. The Maldives officially acceded to the two Covenants on 19 September 2006. Entry into force occurred automatically three months later meaning the fundamental rights of all Maldives citizens are now protected through international law as well as through the Constitution. At the same time as acceding to the ICCPR and ICESCR, the Maldives also acceded to the Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, as a result of which individuals can now petition the UN Human Rights Committee if they feel that they have not been able to obtain a domestic remedy for any violation of their rights.

Ms. Arbour also identified the Maldives’ ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) as an “equally welcome initiative”. The OPCAT, which establishes the first ever international system of detention monitoring, was adopted by the United Nations on 18 December 2002 and formally entered into force, with the twentieth State ratification, on 22 June 2006. The Maldives was one of the 20 original members States of the OPCAT, having formally acceded to the instrument on 15 February 2006. The Maldives remains the only country in Asia to have ratified the Optional Protocol.

Ms. Arbour concluded her letter by stressing the importance of the effective implementation of these and other new commitments at the national level and stressed that her Office is ready to assist the Maldives in this regard during 2007.

Speaking after the receipt of the letter, Chief Government SpokesmanMohamed Hussain Shareef, said:

“The Maldives took a number of very important steps during 2006 to bring itself into line with international human rights standards. We are pleased that these efforts have been recognized but also agree with Ms. Arbour that the hard work has only just begun.

By signing-up to key international human rights treaties like the ICCPR, the Optional Protocol to ICCPR, ICESCR and OPCAT, we have laid down a clear and unambiguous course for the future. It is now up to all stakeholders in the Maldives to work together to ensure that we reach our goals and in-so-doing create a fair and just society in which human rights are fully respected and protected. In this regard, the Government welcomes the High Commissioner’s continued support and looks forward to working closely with her Office, and particularly the proposed OHCHR Human Rights Advisor for the Maldives, during 2007. “

ENDS