22 November 2011, New York; The Maldives was one of over 50 co-sponsors of a United Nations’ resolution passed in the Third Committee of the General Assembly in New York calling on Syria to immediately end all violence and human rights abuses against its own people. The resolution was adopted with 122 countries supporting it from all regions of the world, while only 13 countries opposed.
After careful consultation and deliberation, the international community determined that the human rights abuses in Syria warranted immediate action, especially after its failure to adhere to the Plan of Action proposed by the Arab League. The United Nations estimates that over 3’500 civilians have been killed so far during clashes in Syrian cities including the flashpoint city of Homs.
In October, the Arab League lead by the Foreign Minister of Qatar and with the support of the international community devised a plan of action to stop violence against civilians in Syria, and to initiate a dialogue with opposition movements. However, the continuation of violence against civilians by the security forces, suppression of opposition protestors and the deterioration of human rights in Syria prompted the United Nations to act with all urgency.
The resolution strongly condemns the grave and systematic human rights violations in Syria, and calls upon the Syrian authorities to immediately put an end to all violence. The resolution also urges Syria to comply fully with its obligations under international human rights law.
The Maldives joined a cross-regional group of co-sponsors that supported this resolution including many members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation such as Afghanistan, Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Officials from the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives participated in the voting today that was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The Maldives has recently played an active role on human rights in the international arena. A member of the UN Human Rights Council, the Maldives has voiced its strong and unequivocal support for the aspirations of the Arab people throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa. Drawing from its own experience of a peaceful democratic transition and as a Muslim country, the Maldives has continued to call for greater respect for human rights and the need for democratic, progressive and tolerant societies around the world.
