22nd November 2011, Male; The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Ms. Navi Pillay, today starts a three-day visit to the Maldives - the first by a holder of the UN's senior human rights office. Ms. Pillay, who is visiting at the invitation of the Government, is expected to use her presence to welcome the country's recent progress in the field of human rights and to urge further steps to consolidate democracy.
During her visit (22-24 November 2011), the High Commissioner will meet with President Mohamed Nasheed and other senior government representatives, with members of the Opposition, with judges and lawyers and with NGOs. She will also deliver a keynote address to the People's Majlis on the challenge of promoting human rights in the context of a democratic transition, and will visit a drug rehabilitation center.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Foreign Minister H.E. Mr. Ahmed Naseem said: "It is an great honour for us to welcome the High Commissioner to the Maldives. The visit symbolizes the enormous strides we have taken as a country over recent years in the field of human rights. Only a few year's ago, the then High Commissioner, Ms. Louise Arbour, and her Office were regularly expressing concern at human rights abuses being carried out in the Maldives. Today, the current High Commissioner, Ms. Pillay, is visiting a new democratic nation which is a strong advocate of human rights at home and abroad".