28th February 2012, Geneva;The UN Human Rights Council has begun its 19th regular session at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Human Rights Council is the world's foremost human rights protection body. The Maldives has been one of the Council's 47 voting members since September 2010.
The 19th Session began with a High Level Segment during which around sixty Ministers will address the Council on major human rights developments around the world. The Maldives will be represented in the High Level Segment by H.E. Ms. Dunya Maumoon, State Minister for Foreign Affairs.
At the end of the High Level Segment, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, will present her report on major human rights issues that should be addressed by the Council.
Major issues to be addressed during the Session include: the human rights situations in Syria, Myanmar, Iran and Libya; freedom of expression on the internet; improving political participation among persons with disabilities; torture prevention; violence against children; and international efforts to promote children's rights. The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, Dr. Shaheed from the Maldives, will also present his first report to the Council.
The Session will also include a Signing Ceremony for the new UN Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child establishing a communications procedure so that children who have suffered abuse, or their representatives, can write to the UN for assistance. The UN resolution which agreed to establish this new international treaty was negotiated by the Maldives, Slovenia and Slovakia.
The session will last until 23 March.
ENDS.