Society needs to better understand how to safeguard rights, says HRCM

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives has called on the people to seek a better understanding of the ways of Islam and avenues to safeguard the rights of individuals.

In a statement released on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, the chief human rights body of the state said that a lot of effort is still needed in the Maldives in understanding how to protect and safeguard the rights of individuals.

The commission today called on everyone to respect the rights of one another and focus on protecting the rights groups under the state's care and those who require the society's special attention.

The commission asserted that the protection of the law must be extended without discrimination and that much work needs to be done towards protecting the society from torture and inhumane acts.

Highlighting that 10 December marks the commission’s 10th anniversary, HRCM said: “The topic of human rights has slowly spread through the past 10 years. The topic of rights is one of the most prominently talked-about topics today. To some extent, there is talk about seeking their rights, or a specific right in every family, every day. This is something we celebrate as we mark the Human Rights Day this year.”

The commission further noted that there are pending legislatures to protect the vulnerable groups in the society and that, in its national inquiry on access to education for children with disabilities, the commission saw that the government's inability to implement legislation had left children with disabilities without the special care and attention that they much need.

Concluding the statement, HRCM said that the Maldives' re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the second term has increased hopes of realizing and protecting human rights in the country.