Thank you, Moderator. It is a pleasure to join this important roundtable.
As we meet for the 23rd edition of the Doha Forum held under the patronage of His Highness the Amir, we are reminded of Qatar’s steadfast commitment to dialogue diplomacy, and the strengthening of multilateral cooperation.
This year’s theme, “Justice in Action: Beyond Promises to Progress,” is both timely and pivotal. Around the world, we see widening inequalities, prolonged conflicts, and deepening humanitarian crises amidst changing geopolitical dynamics. These realities demand not only our attention, but mandates us to renew the commitment to uphold international justice and the rule of law – precisely, the foundation of global stability.
For the Maldives — as a small island developing State — a functioning, fair, and impartial international justice system is not a luxury. It is essential. Our security, our sovereignty, and our ability to thrive depend on a rules-based international order where all States are equal, where international law is consistently applied, and where justice cannot be shaped by power or political convenience.
In this context, it is important to recognise that climate justice is a core part of international justice. For small island countries like the Maldives and many other
like- minded states, climate change has increasingly become an existential threat. Those of us who contribute the least to climate change are often the ones who suffer the most. How the global community addresses climate impacts, loss and damage, and environmental vulnerability are real tests of whether the global justice system is fair. A truly fair international system must reflect this and include climate justice as a central aspect of global accountability.
Yet today, confidence in our international justice system remains fragile amid growing global pressures. We are concerned about selectivity, delays, and uneven enforcement of international law. This has contributed to erosion of trust and weakened the legitimacy of multilateral mechanisms designed to protect human dignity. We must act decisively to reinforce and uphold these institutions, to restore faith and ensure justice for all.
Excellencies,
Ensuring that international courts and mechanisms can function with full independence and credibility is a shared responsibility. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in particular, should be able to play its full role in guiding peaceful dispute resolution and upholding the rule of law. For countries like the Maldives, the ICJ represents fairness and predictability, a place where disputes can be settled through principles, not power. Supporting its work, and respecting its decisions, is essential to maintaining confidence in the multilateral system.
The Maldives has consistently demonstrated principled leadership in advocating for accountability within ICJ processes through our support for cases that uphold human rights and protect vulnerable communities. Our engagement reflects our belief that even small states can meaningfully contribute to strengthening global justice
Justice must also contribute to peace. Transitional justice must be inclusive, community-centred, and focused on reconciliation.
Above all, justice must protect human dignity, anywhere and everywhere. Whether in Gaza, Sudan, or any region in crisis, the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian law must remain universal obligations. These principles cannot depend on geography or politics.
For the Maldives, the plight of the Palestinian people remains a profound test of our shared commitment to justice. We have consistently advocated for accountability, for the protection of innocent civilians in Palestine, and for an end to the atrocities and violence that has claimed far too many innocent lives. We firmly believe that international law must guide the path to a just and lasting peace, one that ensures the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and statehood. Justice delayed in Palestine is justice denied on a global scale.
Likewise, the suffering of the Rohingya community stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of inaction. The Maldives has taken a principled stand in support of accountability for the atrocities faced by the Rohingya including through international legal proceedings in the ICJ. As a nation with deep belief in the rule of law, we cannot remain indifferent when an entire population is denied basic human rights and forced into displacement. Their plight underscores why international justice must be accessible to all, especially the most marginalised.
The Maldives remains firmly committed to a rule-based international order, to multilateral cooperation, and to global justice that protects the weak and restrains the powerful. We believe that international justice is strongest when it is universal, impartial, and accessible — and when it restores hope to those who have suffered the most.
Excellencies,
Strengthening trust in the international justice system requires meaningful reforms, the depoliticisation of justice mechanisms, greater representation and participation of small states and stronger compliance and enforcement frameworks that ensure decisions are respected. These steps are essential to reinforcing the legitimacy and credibility of international justice
At the end of the day, justice is not delivered through declarations. It is realised through action, through empathy, and through a renewed commitment to our shared humanity. Let us use this Forum to renew our collective resolve to uphold justice, strengthen institutions, and deliver outcomes that advance human dignity and lasting peace for all peoples.
Thank you.