Maldives launches re-election campaign for UNHRC

Maldives has launched a campaign effort for re-election to a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council.

A statement released by the Foreign Ministry today said that the campaign was launched at the Palais des Nations in Geneva by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dunya Maumoon.

Maldives became a member of the UNHRC on the 13th of May 2010 for a three year term, which is to expire this year. The election of new members to the Council will be held in October and November 2013, at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Foreign Ministry revealed that during the campaign launching ceremony, Maldives presented details of the work carried out during the country's two year tenure in the UNHRC.

The statement also said that during her speech, Minister of State Dhunya Maumoon noted that the Maldives is the smallest country to sit on the Council, but had never hesitated in taking strong positions on any issues including the controversial ones and in advocating for small states-related issues.

“The Maldives had prioritised its term in the Council by focusing on women and children’s rights and the rights of persons with disability, had been a vocal campaigner for the prevention of torture, and brought the issue of the right of all to live in a safe and clean environment to the forefront of the Council’s debate,” the statement said.

The statement also highlighted that in its two-year term, the Maldives championed the issue of the inherent link between human rights and climate change and ran consecutive and consensus based resolutions that had received support from all regions.

The launching event was attended by 150 delegates including visiting Ministers, Ambassadors, NGOs and UN Officials attending the Human Rights Council.

Maldives gained the UNHRC seat in 2010 with a total vote 185 countries, the highest majority received to a country to be elected to the UNHRC to date.