The 33rd Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) commenced at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
In line with the priority Maldives accords to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and its mechanisms, the delegation from Maldives will actively participate at the session of the UPR and will present constructive recommendations to states that are to be reviewed. Maldives is represented at the UPR Session by the Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Nations Office at Geneva Dr. Hala Hameed, Deputy Permanent Representative Hawla Ahmed Didi, and Aishath Shahula First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Maldives to United Nations Office at Geneva.
UPR is a process which involves a review of the human rights records of all United Nations Member States. The UPR is a state-driven process, under the auspices of UNHRC, which provides the opportunity for each state to declare actions taken to improve the human rights situations in their respective countries and to fulfil their human rights obligations. With the objective to improve human rights situations in all countries, and also addressing violations of human rights wherever they may occur, the UPR mechanism is designed to give equal treatment to every country when their human rights situation is assessed.
Maldives is due to be reviewed on April/May 2020 at the 36th Session of UPR.