Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has said the Maldives will continue to advocate for the progress of youth. He made the statement in a special video message upon the election of the Maldives for the upcoming term of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
In his video message, Minister Shahid said that it is the third term of the Maldives on the UNHRC, and the country's election to the council symbolises the confidence of the international community in the government's efforts to protect and promote human rights. He said the Maldives will continue to serve on the UNHRC based on the main pillars of the government's foreign policy. He also noted that the main components of the government’s foreign policy are human rights, democracy, good governance, and climate change.
Additionally, Minister Shahid said the Maldives will participate constructively in strengthening the human rights policies under the guidance of the United Nations (UN) Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). He also said the Maldives will continue to advocate for youth and make efforts to promote class equality and eliminate violence against women, advocate the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and promote and protect the human rights component of climate change.
In conclusion, Minister Shahid said the Maldives will work with all relevant stakeholders to bring about positive changes in a meaningful and constructive manner to further strengthen the work of the council. He said the council will also work to make it more inclusive, constructive, and diverse.
The Maldives won its seat on the UNHRC in a secret ballot held at the United Nations General Assembly (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.