The Republic of Maldives today was elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations to serve a three-year term on the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). At the election that was held during the resumed session of the Economic and Social Council, Maldives as a member of the Executive Board will aim to strengthen the work of the organization in meeting the needs of women all around the world. This is the first time that the Maldives has been elected to a functional body of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
The Maldives has played a major role internationally in promoting and protecting the rights of women, it has actively advocated to combat violence and discrimination against women within the Human Rights Council and has also taken significant steps in improving the socio-economic and political rights of women in the Maldives. In April this year, the President of the Republic of Maldives H.E. Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan ratified the first ever domestic violence bill, after being approved by the Parliament. The Bill will ensure that victims of domestic violence, especially women are given adequate protection and safeguards to prevent domestic violence through law enforcement and rehabilitation of offenders. The President also announced in February this year, the creation a new Gender Ministry to streamline the gender development activities in the country.
The Maldives first announced its candidature to the Executive Board of UN Women, as part of an international strategy to engage with the international community on all issues relating to the promotion and protection of human rights that would substantially improve the domestic frameworks in creating awareness, addressing the root causes of concern, and building up national capacity to protect the vulnerable groups in Maldivian society, such as women and children.
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women was created in July 2010, bringing together a number of resources and mandates within the UN system, which focuses exclusively on the promotion and protection of women’s rights. The Maldives will commence its membership on the Executive Board in 2012 and will serve three years ending in 2015. The Maldives will be represented at the Executive Board by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations.
