Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has affirmed the government's commitment to promoting adherence to established human rights standards, emphasising a particular focus on advancements in the area. He made the remarks during a ceremony held to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the 20th anniversary of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), and the 15th anniversary of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM).
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ihusaan advocated for the establishment of specialised treatment facilities in the Maldives as an alternative to prisons, underscoring the need for strict compliance with human rights protection standards. He expressed the intention to drive substantial progress in the field of human rights in the future.
A specialised online portal was also launched at the ceremony to assess the implementation of NPM proposals across public institutions. The portal aims to streamline the process for relevant entities to share real-time updates on proposal implementation with the NPM, eliminating the need for manual data collection and recording.
The event was jointly organised by HRCM and the United Nations (UN). Representatives from the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT), the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT), ambassadors from high commissions and embassies, government agencies, and various UN offices, along with civil society organisations (CSOs) attended the event.
The UDHR was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on December 10, 1948, and serves as the foundational document internationally recognising and safeguarding human rights.