HRCM submits UPR report to UNHRC

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives has submitted the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The UPR report focuses on the human rights issues prevalent in the Maldives, as well as the implementation status of the recommendations of the first UPR report. The report submitted by the HRCM outlines issues and recommendations in 18 thematic areas under civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The report was compiled based on information received from the target stakeholders including government authorities, state institutions and the civil society as well as from the monitoring data collected by the HRCM.

In the past three months, the HRCM held a number of meetings with stakeholders in order to facilitate constructive dialogue on the implementation of the recommendations in the first review. The report was shared with all the stakeholders with a time frame to comment on the report, so as to ensure maximum participation from all state actors in the UPR process. The final report was compiled to reflect as many comments from the stakeholders as possible.

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reviews the human rights records of all UN Member States. The process is led by the State with the guidance of the Human Rights Council. The UPR process provides the opportunity for the State to outline their actions towards improving the human rights situation of their country.

The deadline for the civil society to submit the UPR report is September 15, 2014. The tentative deadline for the government to submit the country report is January 19, 2015. The country is scheduled to be reviewed on the 22nd Session of the UPR Committee in April or May of 2015.