The delegation of the Maldives delivered 18 formal statements and 1 joint statement on behalf of 47 countries and actively participated in the negotiation of 36 resolutions and 1 Presidential Statement, adopted during the concluding session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The session also confirmed the appointment of 4 mandate holders and adopted the report of the 35th session, which concluded in Geneva.
The Maldives delivered statements on thematic discussions covered in the Programme of Work of the Council, including those on the Annual Report of the High Commissioner; human rights situations of Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syrian Arab Republic, Myanmar, and other human rights situations that require the Council's attention. The Maldives also issued statements on the promotion and protection of human rights in relation to numerous issues, including education, extreme poverty, and violence against women, technical assistance and capacity building in relation to the Universal Periodic Review.
During this Session, the Maldives along with a core group of States, including Ecuador, Italy, Maldives, Morocco, Philippines, Romania, and Spain, led the resolution entitled "Contribution of Parliaments to the work of the Human Rights Council and its universal periodic review," to increase the linkages between national parliaments and the work of the Council. The Maldives was also a member of the core group with Australia, Botswana, Hungary, Mexico, and Thailand, on two resolutions to strengthen the Council's engagement on judges and lawyers, entitled: "Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers" and "Independence and impartiality of the judiciary, jurors and assessors, and the independence of lawyers."
In line with its key priorities at the UN Human Rights Council, the Maldives co-sponsored a number of resolutions, including those on human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic and on Occupied Palestinian Territories along with co-sponsoring several other resolutions. The Maldives participated in several other side events including formal and informal engagements on the side-lines of the Human Rights Council.
The Human Rights Council consists of 47 State Members of the United Nations, and is elected for terms of three years. In December 2016, the Maldives completed serving two consecutive three year terms as a member of the Council. The Maldives is currently running for membership in the UN Security Council for the term 2019-2020.
The Maldives was represented at the 35th Session by the Permanent Mission of Maldives, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the United Office and other International Organizations at Geneva, Dr Hala Hameed, along with Deputy Permanent Representative, Jeffrey Salim Waheed, , First Secretary, Aishath Shahula and Director of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hassan Hussain Shihab.