Maldives highlights work to strengthen its legal framework on the protection of children

Thursday, 13 October 2016 12:52

13 October 2016, New York; At the United Nations General Assembly debate on Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children, the Maldives highlighted on the ongoing work to strengthen the legal framework on the protection of children. Delivering the statement at the Third Committee on behalf of the Maldives delegation, Ms. Moomina Ibrahim, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted the extensive reforms that are in place in the new Child Rights bill and Juvenile Justice bill that will give effect to the United Nations standards and norms.

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Government of Maldives congratulates Mr. Antonio Guterres on his confirmation as the next Secretary General of the United Nations

Thursday, 13 October 2016 09:56

13 October 2016, Male'; The Government of Maldives congratulates and warmly welcomes Mr. Antonio Guterres on his confirmation as the next Secretary General of the United Nations. As a country which looks upon the United Nations as the guarantor of international peace and security, the Maldives stands ready to extend its support and looks forward to working with Mr. Guterres as he gets ready for the assignment as the new Secretary General.

The process for the new Secretary General's selection has been conducted in an unprecedentedly transparent manner, with the extensive involvement of the General Assembly. The Maldives is therefore assured that Mr. Guterres is the preeminent candidate to lead international conscience forward at a time when international cooperation is needed more than ever. We hope that the momentum built for making the United Nations more transparent, accountable, and coherent in all its functions and activities would gain extra ground under his dynamic leadership.

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The Maldives decides to leave the Commonwealth; commits to continue with its international engagement

Thursday, 13 October 2016 08:41

The Maldives joined the Commonwealth in 1982 with high hopes and expectations, convinced that the organisation will be an arena for coordinating critical issues that the member States, in particular, the smallest members of the organisation face.

Since 2012, the Government of Maldives has been giving maximum cooperation to the Commonwealth, shown maximum transparency, and engaged with the Commonwealth at the highest levels. The Government had high hopes that such level of engagement will produce fruitful results. Regrettably, the Commonwealth has not recognised that progress and achievements that the Maldives accomplished in cultivating a culture of democracy in the country and in building and strengthening democratic institutions. The Government of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has enacted a total of 110 pieces of legislations. Out of which, 94 legislations were directly related to the core values set out in the Commonwealth Charter. An overwhelming majority of these legislations (69 out of 94) were specifically designed to promote human rights, to strengthen democratic governance, and to reinforce the separation of powers. These achievements have resulted in strengthening the rule of law and produced tangible outcomes in strengthening democratic institutions in the country.

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The Maldives highlights linkages between Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Natural Disasters

Tuesday, 11 October 2016 14:45

11 October 2016, New York; The Maldives, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), argued for the importance of pursuing implementation of sustainable development commitments, and for there to be a continued understanding of the linkages between climate change, sustainable development, and disaster risk reduction. Addressing the Economic and Financial (Second) Committee of the United Nations on Agenda 19: Sustainable Development, His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations stressed that "rising sea levels, increasing extreme weather events, and ocean acidification threaten not only our development, but our very survival," and as such, welcomed the recent entry into force of the Paris Agreement, while calling on all remaining countries to sign and ratify the document, and for everyone to begin with implementation.

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"Women should be treated as leaders, contributors and agents of change rather than followers or merely beneficiaries", says Maldives

Tuesday, 11 October 2016 08:56

10 October 2016, New York; At the United Nations General Assembly debate on Advancement of Women, the Maldives has urged to ensure that women are not treated as followers or merely beneficiaries, but as leaders, contributors and agents of change.

Delivering the statement at the Third Committee on behalf of the Maldives delegation, Ms. Zeena Mohamed Didi, Second Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the United Nations, highlighted the country's efforts towards achieving gender equality. "Our policy to achieve gender equality is clear: continue to invest in girls and women; continue to give them the right tools to realize their true potential; and continue to introduce structural and normative changes to enable women to fight for their constitutionally guaranteed rights before the law", the Committee was told.

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