The Parliament has approved the participation of Maldives in the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This initiative was proposed for parliamentary endorsement by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, following the recommendation of the Cabinet.
The implementation of this convention obligates the identification and substitution of mercury containing equipment. The convention additionally advocates for the proper disposal of such equipment to alleviate any adverse effects on both human health and the environment. Decisions have been formulated to facilitate the provision of requisite financial aid. The enforcement of this initiative will undoubtedly serve as a crucial measure in mitigating the adverse impacts on human health arising from mercury exposure.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a multilateral environmental drafted in 2013 on behalf of the United Nations Environment Programme, aiming to protect human health and the environment from the detrimental effects of mercury. While a total of 147 nations are actively involved in the enforcement of this convention, efforts to implement this measure have been underway by the Maldives since 2017.