The 38th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has commenced in Geneva. The session will continue for three weeks and will end July 6.
Similar to previous sessions, the Maldivian delegation will actively engage and contribute to panel discussions and interactive dialogues as well as participate at the discussions of some the key resolutions during the session. Additionally, Maldives will co-sponsor three side events at the session.
In this regard, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Hala Hameed will participate as a panellist at the side event co-hosted by Maldives and Morocco, on the role of women entrepreneurship in the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the promotion of women's economic and social empowerment. Ambassador Hala Hameed will also participate in the panel discussion on child rights education co-hosted with Philippines and UNICEF.
The Maldives as a core group member of the resolution ''contribution of parliaments'' will cosponsor and contribute to the side event on increasing engagement with human rights by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the core group of Human Rights Council resolution on contribution of parliaments.
The Maldives as the Co-chair and on behalf of the Friends of SIDS group along with Australia, will also lead a cross regional Joint Statement under Agenda Item 10, highlighting the importance of universal, participation at the UN Human Rights Council. The Joint Statement will reiterate the vital role of the "Trust Fund established to Support the Participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the work of the HRC".
The Maldives, as part of Regional and political Groups including the OIC and Non-Aligned Movement, has shared concerns of the human rights atrocities that are escalating around the world and will address some of these concerns as well as in its endeavours to promote and protect human rights for all. In this regard, the Maldives will deliver a statement on the discussion on the issue of human rights situations in the Syria, Palestine and on the Rohingya Muslim minorities in Myanmar.
The Maldives priorities at the Human Rights Council include women's rights, climate change and environment, and, rule of law and democracy. Maldives will actively engage and co-sponsor a number of resolutions. Some of the key resolutions for the Maldives at this session are: violence against women, discrimination against women, climate change and human rights, and trafficking in persons.
The Maldives will be represented at the Human Rights Council by Permanent Representative Hala Hameed. The Maldives has served as a Member of the Council for 2 conservative terms of 6 years until 2016. Maldives is currently an observer member of the council.
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system, made up of 47 members who takes the responsibility for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.