The Maldives reiterated its commitment to promote and protect the rights of women, at the United Nations today. Participating for the first time at the First Regular Session of the Executive Board of the United Nations Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) the Maldives stressed its national commitment to effectively work with UN-Women to further advance gender equality and the empowerment of women globally.
As a new member on the Executive Board, the Maldives shared its experience as a small island developing state that is undergoing democratic transition. The Maldives noted that women and children remain key vulnerable groups that get marginalized the most especially during such situations and emphasized that appropriate focus must be afforded to the role of women in democracies in transition.
The Maldives also welcomed UN Women’s commitment to the United Nations Development Group, and long-term commitments serving to synthesize its normative and operational aspects. The statement cautioned, however, that until there is evidence of widespread leadership and the participation of women at the national and global levels, the work of UN Women cannot fulfill its desired goals. It must work to further mainstream gender-responsible constitutional and legal frameworks, electoral systems, and non-governmental institutions.
The Maldives was elected to the Executive Board of UN-Women in April 2012, and will serve as a member of the Board until 2015. The First Regular Session of the Executive Board is currently ongoing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The statement was delivered by Mr. Amin Javed Faizal, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives to the United Nations.
