Judge Shujune re-elected to UN anti-torture subcommittee

Civil Court Judge Aisha Shujune Muhammad has been re-elected to the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SPT).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on its website that Shujune was re-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, on Thursday, 23 October.

Shujune will start her second term on the SPT on 1 January 2015. She was first elected to the SPT in 2010.

The Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon congratulated Shujune and said that the re-election 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.

Dunya further said that this victory demonstrates the respect given by the international community to the Maldivian government for its work on promotion and protection of human rights, especially on prevention of torture.

The SPT was established pursuant to the provisions of the 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.