7th March 2012, Geneva; The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons today delivered a report on the human rights of IDPs in the Maldives, especially in the context of the Asian Tsunmai and climate change. In response, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives in Geneva, H.E. Ms. Iruthisham Adam, welcomed the report and updated the Council on steps taken to improve disaster preparedness and disaster management in the Maldives.
In July 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur, Mr. Chaloka Beyani, conducteda mission to the Maldives to look into human rights issues related tothe situation of persons displaced by the 2004 Asian Tsunami, and toaddress human rights issues related to future climate-induced internaldisplacement.
After listening to the report of the mission, Ambassador Adam notedthat "the 2004 Tsunami caused untold damage to the Maldives, includingto its infrastructure. Thousands of homes were either destroyed orseverely damaged, and an estimated 12,000 people were displaced fromtheir islands".
Welcoming the Special Rapporteur's visit, the Permanent Representativesaid that "since 2004, the Maldives has sought to construct a newdisaster risk reduction strategy, including a wide range of newinstitutions, policies and programmes". This new framework hasincluded "the adoption of a Strategic National Action Plan forDisaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, the creation ofa National Disaster Management Centre, and the drafting and adoptionof a Disaster Management Bill in 2009".
The Permanent Representative also welcomed the Special Rapporteur'srecommendation that "consideration of the rights of internallydisplaced persons should be incorporated at all stages, in allrelevant development plans and programmes, in line with a humanrights-based approach and the Guiding Principles on InternalDisplacement".
In his conclusion, the Special Rapporteur commended the Maldives forhaving undertaking a range of actions to respond to the actual andprojected threat of climate change which includes the disaster riskreduction strategy and the climate change adaptation strategy. In herfinal comments, Ambassador Adam emphasised that international supportfor such policies is vital. "Without action by the internationalcommunity, in particular the need to drastically reduce greenhouse gasemissions, our disaster risk reduction and climate adaption strategieswill not be sufficient to prevent internal displacement all together"she concluded.
ENDS.