President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that human rights and the fundamental equality and freedom of all are core aspects of democracy and that the Maldives is extremely proud to have won a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Following the election of the Maldives for the 2023-2025 term of the UNHRC. President Solih said that basic equality and freedom are the core parts of democracy and he was proud of the achievement of the Maldives in the international fora. He also thanked Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid for his efforts to win the seat for the Maldives.
The Maldives won its seat on the UNHRC in a secret ballot held at the UNGA. The election saw 17 countries competing for 14 vacant seats. The membership for the UNHRC is based on equitable geographical distribution, and seats are allotted among regional groups. The Maldives competed in the Group of Asia-Pacific States, for one of the four vacant seats. The Maldives won the seat with 154 votes, out of a total of 189 votes cast. Along with the Maldives, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan also won seats for the Group of Asia-Pacific States. The new members will start their terms on January 1, 2023.
The Maldives previously was a member of the UNHRC from 2011-2016. The foreign policy of the Maldives gives special importance to the protection of human rights and the maintenance of democracy.