Minister of Gender and Family Zeneesha Shaheed Zaki has revealed that the government plans to execute a National Human Rights Action Plan for the next five years. The Maldivian Gender Minister made the statement while addressing the official function held to mark the International Human Rights Day.
The efforts to formulate the framework of the five year National Human Rights Action Plan has now been completed, Gender Minister Zeneesha Shaheed Zaki said addressing the official function held to mark the International Human Rights Day. On this note, Gender Minister Zeneesha assured that the framework which was formulated with the expertise of the relevant authorities had covered all aspects related to preserving and securing human rights in the Maldives. Minister Zeneesha described the National Human Rights Action Plan as the biggest step Maldives would take towards safeguarding the human rights.
During the function, an official statement was released by President of Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) Dr. Aminath Eenas on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day. President of HRCM Dr. Eenas stated that major plights have been caused in the society due to the misuse of the right of freedom of expression. Dr. Eenas stated that freedom of expression is a right that has to be used to make authorities accountable. However, she noted that the Maldivian society does not depict such situations as this right have been misused at many instances to defame personals.
In the official function held to mark the International Human Rights Day, certificates were distributed to authorities and personals who have aided HRCM to protect and secure the human rights in the country.
A total of 342 cases related to human rights have been filed in the commission in the first 11 months of this year, according to the latest statistics of HRCM. While 246 of these cases have been addressed, most of these cases are related to health service attainment issues, abuse to old and disabled people. In addition, 600 cases related to abuse to family and children have also been filed to HRCM.
Human Rights Day is observed every year on December 10, which is the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year, Human Rights Day kicks off a year-long campaign to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document that proclaimed the inalienable rights which everyone is inherently entitled to as a human being.