13 July 2012
The Maldives today continued to present its initial periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the UN in Geneva. Yesterday, the Maldives delegation, led by the Home Minister, Dr. Jameel, presented the Maldives' report to the members of the Human Rights Committee, the UN body charged with ensuring compliance with the Covenant. He noted that the Maldives has made significant progress in implementing the rights int he ICCPR since it was ratified and since the adoption of the country's new Constitution. The delegation then aswered questions put by the Committee.
The questions focused on a range of issues including equality and non-discrimination, especially legal discrimination of non-Muslims, on torture and whether victims have secured redress, on moves in the Majlis to reinstate the death penalty, on the perceived inactivity of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, on legal and societal inequalities between men and women in the Maldives, and on the low participation of women in senior public posts, on the events of 7th and 8th February 2012 and the CoNI, and on human rights violations relating to the punishment of flogging.
Today, the delegation will answer questions from Committee members on a range of issues related to the implementation of the Covenant. This will include questions on freedom of expression and press freedom, the right to peaceful protest, and on the right of people to choose their government through free and fair vote.
At the end of today's meeting, the Committee will adopt concluding observations and recommendations to the Government to strengthen the rights contained in the ICCPR.
END.