President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has welcomed the Maldives’ election as Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the remainder of this year. At the administrative meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, Dr. Salma Rasheed, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the UN Office in Geneva, was elected as the Vice President of the Council. Dr. Salma Rasheed was nominated for this position with the full support of the Asia-Pacific Group to represent the countries of that group in the Council’s Bureau.
With the Maldives’ election as Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council, the Maldives will now carry out the responsibilities of the Asia-Pacific Group in the capacity of Vice President. In a post shared on social media regarding this, the President stated that the Maldives has a history of strongly advocating and providing assistance in matters related to human rights, especially those concerning Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Additionally, describing this as an achievement, the President’s post also stated that as an active member of the Human Rights Council, the Maldives’ efforts to uphold the principles of justice, equality, and human dignity will be further strengthened in line with the country’s robust commitments.
The President’s post also reiterated the assurance that the Maldives will work towards a just, inclusive world for everyone. The Maldives has been playing an important role in protecting and promoting human rights in the international arena. In this regard, the Maldives has previously completed two consecutive terms in the Human Rights Council from 2011 to 2013 and from 2014 to 2016. Furthermore, the Maldives is a member of the Council for the current term from 2023 to 2025. Moreover, the Maldives has demonstrated its leadership and participation at the highest level of the Council by serving as Vice President in 2013 and 2023. In addition to Permanent Representative Dr. Salma Rasheed, the other Vice Presidents of the Council’s Bureau will be the Permanent Representatives of Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Romania.
The Maldives’ election as Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the remainder of this year confirms the country’s capability to effectively manage the Human Rights Council and the trust and confidence placed in the Maldives. As a member of the Council, the Maldives will always promote the fundamental principles of the multilateral system, such as consultation, cooperation, and consensus decision-making, while upholding the universality of human rights.
