The Maldives expresses commitment to furthering avenues for international cooperation at the 36th session of the Human Rights Council.
In a statement delivered by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva Dr. Hala Hameed at the 36th session of the Human Rights Council, she assured commitment to furthering avenues for international cooperation and to supporting open and honest dialogue as an essential vehicle for the promotion and protection of human rights in all parts of the world. The Maldivian Permanent Representative said that it is of deep concern to witness the exacerbating conflicts and associated human rights violations, waged against civilians, especially in the Middle East.
Permanent Representative Dr. Hala Hameed said that it is notable that most of these conflicts have prevailed for years, but the international community, have failed to implement concrete actions to successfully mediate lasting peace and bring relief to those who suffer most; the civilians. Dr. Hala Hameed reasserted the full solidarity and support of Maldives to the State of Palestine, and deeply condemned the perpetuated grave human rights violations, and unlawful occupation by Israel, continuing to constitute is the gravest injustice of the current era.
Furthermore, the Maldives called on the Myanmar Government to immediately cease all atrocities against the Muslim Rohingya population and to allow the United Nations Fact Finding Mission access to the country and also, to fully cooperate with United Nations Agencies, non-governmental organisations and all others to provide humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya population. Dr. Hala noted that for almost 40 years, waves of violence combined with systematic disenfranchisement has directly targeted the Rohingya community to make it one of the most unjustly persecuted minorities in the world today. She said that they are subject to pervasive and gross violations of human rights violations, including rape and murder, tantamount to ethnic cleansing. She added that the outright burning of their homes, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people under the guise of fighting terrorism, and the robbing of their fundamental and inalienable human rights has all the hallmarks of sustained violence.
Regarding these inhumane situation of world, in particular, the Rohingya population, Ambassador Dr. Hala Hameed said that the world right now is seeing the establishment of a cycle of fear, hatred and violence through systematic subjugation. Ambassador Dr. Hala Hameed further highlighted the deteriorating situation of refugees and migrants in Libya, including the systematic human rights abuses such as rape, torture, arbitrary detention and enslavement, an encourage greater assistance is provided to address these abuses.
The Maldives expressed their gratitude to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special procedures mandate holders for their remarkable work.