Geneva; Maldivian Judge Aisha Shujune Muhammad, the Judge at the Civil Court of Maldives was re-elected today to the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT) today. She was elected to the SPT with 63 out of 70 valid ballots cast, at the elections held at the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in Geneva.
Congratulating her on her re-election to the SPT, Minister Dunya said “this is a true testament to Judge Shujune’s performance on the SPT, her integrity and conviction, and wide-ranging experience internationally and nationally in matters related to access to justice, and anti-torture. The minister also noted that this victory demonstrates the respect given to the Maldives Government, by the International Community for their work on promotion and protection of human rights, especially on prevention of torture ". Recent efforts in this regard include the ratification of the Anti-Torture Act on 23 December 2013.
Judge Shujune will start her second term on the SPT on 1 January 2015. She was first elected to the SPT in 2010.
The SPT was established pursuant to the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and consists of 25 independent and impartial experts from countries, which have ratified or acceded to the OPCAT. The Maldives ratified the OPCAT on 15 February 2006.
ENDS.
