Foreign Secretary participates in the 15th Bali Democracy Forum
Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef participated in the 15th Bali Democracy Forum today. He participated in the Forum remotely. The Forum was hosted by the Government of Indonesia and held in hybrid format in Bali, Indonesia. The overarching theme for this Forum was “Democracy in a Changing World: Leadership and Solidarity.”
Foreign Secretary Latheef took part in the panel discussion regarding the democratic responses to fair and equitable access for global public goods. Speaking at the Forum, Foreign Secretary Latheef stressed the importance of strengthening leadership, solidarity, and democratic processes to ensure fair and equitable access to global public goods for everyone. He also elaborated on the efforts undertaken by the current administration to grant access to public goods for the whole population, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, he highlighted the launching of the national vaccination program “Covid-19 Dhifaau” for the entire population, which aimed at vaccinating everyone living in the Maldives, regardless of nationality or legal status.
Emphasizing the need to recognize the natural environment and energy resources as public goods, he noted that the Government is consolidating democratic values, such as inclusivity and accountability, to put in place effective responses to climate change. Further, he stated that the Government is introducing innovative technologies in the fisheries and agricultural sectors to ensure greater food security in the Maldives.
Founded in 2008, the Bali Democracy Forum is an annual international forum held in Bali, Indonesia. The Forum aims to encourage dialogue on advancing regional and global cooperation in the areas of peace and democracy. The Forum brings together senior level Government officials and relevant organizations to share valuable best practices and lesson learnt on building democratic societies.