14th March 2012, Male'; The Maldives Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, H.E.Ms. Iruthisham Adam, today updated the Council on recent developmentsin the Maldives pertaining to the country's commitments as a member ofthe Council as well as its international human rights obligations.
Ambassador Adam informed delegates that since the resignation offormer President Nasheed, the Government of President Waheed has takena number of steps to restore calm and to reassert human rights andrule of law.
"A commission of national inquiry has been established to look intothe events leading up to the resignation of the former President andto establish the facts of the transfer of power. The commission thisweek requested UN support through the provision of technical support" said the Ambassador.
"President Waheed also announced the establishment of a government ofnational unity to include all major political parties. He invited theMDP to join his cabinet, offering a number of senior posts. So far,former President Nasheed and his party have declined to take up thisoffer. They have though, along with other parties, agreed toparticipate in all-party talks aimed at lessening tensions andbringing political stability", said Ambassador Adam - though thesetalks have currently stopped after MDP blocked the opening ofParliament.
Ambassador Adam also relayed the Government's commitment "to upholdthe new democratic constitution, and to protect human rights. Alreadya number of steps have been taken in this regard, especially withregard to moving forward with key pieces of human rights legislationblocked in the parliament, with regard to women's and children'srights - for example the government has announced the reestablishmentof the Gender Ministry, and with regard to judicial reform incooperation with the OHCHR. Moreover, any and all human rights abuseswill be dealt with according to the law and according to the Maldives'international human rights obligations".
In closing, the Ambassador welcomed international engagement with theMaldives. "The Maldives is in particularly close contact with theCommonwealth in this regard and looks forward to the upcoming visit ofthe Commonwealth Special Envoy to the Maldives Sir Don McKinnon".
End.