Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has stated all development models must be based on meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, as countries look to rebuild following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The foreign minister made the remarks in a video message delivered at the biennial panel discussion on the Right to Development held at the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council.
In his video message, Minister Shahid noted that Right to Development is a universal and inalienable right, and stressed on the importance of working together to embark on a global effort to develop new and innovative ways to meet the challenges of debt relief, promote investment and unleash the creative potential of our economies. He also recalled the rapid and sustained development the Maldives has achieved over the years and emphasised the unique case of the Maldives for development as a Small Island Developing State.
Minister Shahid further highlighted the timeliness and relevance of the panel discussion, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and stated the pandemic has led to widespread and untold suffering across the globe. Noting the pandemic has also collapsed the entire economy of the Maldives, Minister Shahid highlighted the measures taken by the government to respond to the health crisis including the declaration of a State of Health Emergency across the nation. In this regard, he reiterated President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s commitment towards the promotion and protection of all rights including the right to development.
In his video message, Minister Shahid called upon the international community to embark on a global effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic using innovative and scientific means. The minister said this is the time to rethink development models, to ensure that meeting the needs of the most vulnerable is the common yardstick used to measure the success in building back better following the pandemic.
The panel discussion focused on ways to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Council was also addressed by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.