United Nations in Maldives

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Press Release

06 October 2021

Joint Press Release - Signing of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework

The Framework was signed by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Ahmed Khaleel, on behalf of the Government of Maldives, and Ms. Catherine Haswell, UN Resident Coordinator on behalf of the United Nations. The signing was held in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Abdulla Shahid, senior government officials, and senior officials of the UN Maldives Country Team. The Government and the UN have been working jointly since January 2021 to formulate the UNSDCF in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and partners. In response to development opportunities and challenges faced by the Maldives, and driven by extensive consultations, three overarching Strategic Priorities were identified, that encompass social, environmental and economic sustainability. Under these Strategic Priorities, four Outcome Results were also formulated, for which the United Nations Development System will focus its support on for the period 2022 – 2026. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the Cooperation Framework is designed to contribute to the development priorities and agenda of the Government of the Republic of Maldives, as outlined in the 2019-2023 Strategic Action Plan and the National Resilience and Recovery (NRR) plan. UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell thanked all partners for their inputs and active engagement in designing an effective and impactful framework for UN support to Maldives for the next five years. She further expressed hope that the joint commitment of the UN and the Government will pave the way for Maldives to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and build a future that leaves no one behind. The implementation of the Cooperation Framework will be coordinated through a High-Level Joint Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Resident Coordinator, and comprising of Government Institutions, and UN Agencies and Funds and Programmes with operational activities in the Maldives. The Joint Steering Committee will review progress annually and make recommendations and strategic adjustments to accelerate the achievement of the targets set forth in the Cooperation Framework. Through joint efforts, the Government of Maldives and the UN hope to achieve significant progress in the Maldives’ journey to an inclusive, resilient, healthy, caring, tolerant and skilled society where all people meaningfully participate in, contribute to, and benefit equitably from sustainable cultural, economic, and social development and environmental protection, by 2026.

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Press Release

22 March 2022

Maldives receives Pfizer vaccines and supplies through COVAX, donated by the United States

A team led by the Office of the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Representatives from the US Government and the United Nations, received the vaccines and supplies on the tarmac at Velana International Airport. The Minister of Health, Honourable Ahmed Naseem noted that, “with this batch of vaccines, we can now start vaccinating children between the ages of 12 and 17, which would undoubtedly add renewed momentum to our vaccination efforts. I am confident that today’s donation will not only expand our vaccine eligible population thereby decrease the infection rate and fatalities but will also boost overall economic recovery efforts”. Currently, Sinopharm vaccines are being used to administer the second dose and AstraZeneca vaccines are being used to administer first and second doses to all residents above the age of 18. With a brief delay in the second jab to those who received the Covishield vaccine due to global vaccine supply shortages, the Government of Maldives had resumed the drive to fully vaccinate residents on 4 July 2021. As of 10 August 2021, around 80% of the eligible population has received the first dose and almost 70% received the second, making the country one of the few which has been able to achieve this impressive result, coming very close to vaccinating everyone eligible against COVID-19. UNICEF Representative Marjan Montazemi stated that “We are delighted about the news of Maldives receiving additional doses of vaccines, thanks to the generous donation of the United States Government through the COVAX facility. The Maldives has received praise for its inclusive COVID-19 vaccination program which ensure every resident irrespective of nationality receives vaccination against the Coronavirus disease. Surely the timely administration of the vaccines combined with communication and community engagement will go a long way in ensuring that all eligible populations are duly covered and with that children having access to learning at school”. “In preparation for the Pfizer vaccine; provision of technical guidance including facilitation of EUL, assistance for facilitation of multiple documents, and extensive cold chain support paired with the required trainings and capacity building have been conducted with WHO’s support, whilst providing a supportive supervisory role in the vaccine roll-out process from the very start.” said Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative. “We are optimistic that the new vaccine shipment donated by the Government of the United States of America through COVAX will be an added asset to bridge any existing gaps to reach the unreached, and increase the total population’s immunization coverage to protect the population, reduce disease severity and hospitalization from SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a trusted partner, WHO will continue to support the Government of Maldives’ lead in the vaccine roll-out. We also acknowledge and applaud the country’s steadfast steps towards recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.” The UN Resident Coordinator Catherine Haswell noted that, “the UN welcomes the arrival of a new shipment of vaccines in Maldives, donated by the US Government and facilitated by the COVAX facility. Vaccines are safe, effective and our best hope to end the pandemic. The UN stands ready to support efforts by the Government to provide Pfizer vaccines to children above 12 years of age as well as pregnant women. Together, we can ensure safety and protection of all, and recognize the great strides made in the Maldives in reaching 70% of the population being fully vaccinated as of today”. The COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, and the consequences and impact of COVID-19 go beyond public health risks associated with a pandemic. From what is observed globally, and, in the Maldives, national recovery efforts need to consider the various but interconnected socioeconomic impacts on access to essential services such as education, learning and health services as well as mental health issues faced by children and adults. COVAX, the vaccine equity scheme, co-led by Gavi, CEPI and WHO with UNICEF as an implementing partner, ensures that safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines are available to all countries around the world to help end the pandemic as quickly as possible.

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Press Release

23 March 2022

Supporting Small Island Developing States for a sustainable future

07/03/2022 Male, Maldives/Rome - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has placed Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at the centre of its work to transform agrifood systems, because of their vulnerability to the climate crisis and other shocks and their importance in the protection of marine biodiversity. Scattered around the globe but with just some 65 million inhabitants, SIDS account for only 1 per cent of global CO2 emissions, but they bear the brunt of the effects of climate change on their fragile economies. To underline FAO’s commitment to island nations which are both on the front line of the climate crisis and other shocks and at the same time play a vital role as guardians of our oceans’ biodiversity Director-General QU Dongyu is making a two-day visit to the Maldives. While here, the FAO Director-General is signing a Country Programming Framework with the government. It’s aimed at supporting the country’s efforts to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better, increasing resilience to further shocks and addressing development needs. Qu will also meet several ministers and members of civil society and visit a fisheries company and a hydroponic farm, which grows produce without using soil. Innovation crucial to future “Increased innovation and digitalization can help the SIDS, and the rest of the world, achieve the multiple and cross-cutting targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the SAMOA Pathway Framework for Action,” linking commitments on sustainability in all its dimensions and follow-up actions to last year’s UN Food Systems Summit, Qu said. Despite its idyllic image, the Indian Ocean country, consisting of more than 1200 islands, in many ways typifies the challenges SIDS face. Maldivian officials say they are already feeling the effects of precipitation changes and rising temperatures on food production using its tiny total 65 square km of agricultural land. Reliant, like most of the SIDS, on food imports, except for fisheries, the Maldives is suffering the effects of unhealthy diets, resulting in high rates of Non-Communicable Diseases. It is also acutely vulnerable to fluctuating commodity prices, exacerbated by COVID-19, which has battered its vital tourism industry. These factors all contribute to a need for “technical expertise and support, as well as financial investments into sustainable, regenerative food production, distribution, and consumption patterns,” Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UN and Special Envoy of the President of the General Assembly said in a keynote address to the SIDS Solutions Dialogue convened by FAO last month. “We look forward to continuing to work with key partners, such as the FAO and others, to implement the necessary changes to ensure equitable and sustainable food systems,” she added. The SIDS Solutions Dialogue was just the latest in a series of platforms which FAO has organized, addressing the challenges faced by SIDS. It followed a SIDS Solutions Forum, co-convened by FAO and the government of Fiji in August 2021, which showcased a raft of innovative ideas developed in SIDS, with potential to be scaled up and replicated. These included smart phone apps to promote healthier eating, based on locally available foods, to providing farming information and collating data on available health resources. The forum was the first of an event which is to be held biennially. Among other FAO initiatives targeted specifically at SIDS is the The Global Action Programme on Food Security and Nutrition in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It addresses the need for a more integrated, multi-stakeholder approach to the particular challenges they face in trying to achieve food security and nutrition, and prioritizes stronger international and inter-regional partnerships. The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme also addresses key needs in the SIDS, while FAO’s establishment of an Office of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries helps to draw attention to the vulnerabilities of SIDS, as well as countries in the other two categories, and further a common approach to address the unique challenges faced by these countries. FAO flagship initiatives benefit SIDS In addition, a number of SIDS benefit significantly from FAO’s flagship initiatives being implemented globally. Among these are the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, accelerating rural investment and development, the 1,000 Digital Villages, helping communities take a giant leap forward in digitalization, the Technical Platform for Family Farming, supporting region-to-region cross-fertilization for policy innovation and the One Country One Priority Product, accelerating the development of new agricultural products. All these initiatives add up to a strong commitment by FAO to ensure that SIDS are at the heart of efforts under its Strategic Framework to work towards better production, better nutrition, better environment, and a better life, leaving no-one behind - in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. That vulnerability was further highlighted in the Pacific region by the aftermath of Tonga’s January 15 underwater volcanic eruption and tsunami, which left parts of the islands’ agricultural land covered in ashfall and caused extensive damage to fisheries. FAO and its UN partners are working with the Government of Tonga to implement plans for supporting the country’s farmers and fishers to rebuild their livelihoods after the disaster.

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Press Release

20 October 2021

Government of Maldives, United Nations urge greater action to address devastating impact of climate change on children and young people

MALE, Maldives, 20 October 2021 – In the run up to COP26, the Government of Maldives and UNICEF, in collaboration with UNDP, today hosted the “Our Climate, Our Present, Our Future” event in Male, in an effort to spotlight the devastating impact of climate change on children and young people in Maldives and catalyze action and partnerships to mitigate its effects. The event was attended by over 100 experts, business leaders and young people from Maldives and other small islands developing states (SIDS), such as Seychelles. It was opened by H.E. Ms. Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, with remarks by the UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Ms. Sun Ah Kim Suh, the British High Commissioner for Maldives, Ms. Caron Rohsler, and the UN Resident Coordinator a.i., Enrico Gaveglia, representing UNRC Ms. Catherine Haswell. Through presentations and panel discussions, the event provided a platform for young people from Maldives and other SIDS to make their voices heard and lead by example through climate action, while also sparking synergies among the private sector for innovations, transfer of technology, know-how and climate resilient solutions. JICA was among multiple speakers supporting a more active role for innovation and private sector partnerships in climate action. “Young people have a critical role to play in ensuring that climate change is addressed in the most inclusive manner to ensure maximum resiliency to our communities. We, as government leaders, need to ensure that their voices are welcomed and heard. We need to ensure that they are given platforms to express their views and concerns, so that youth today can lead their own path for change,” said the Minster of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, H.E. Aminath Shauna. In his remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator a.i. stressed on the unique risks and consequences climate change poses for the future of island nations like Maldives. He also highlighted the crucial role of young people in climate action in accelerating achievement of the 2030 Agenda which will ensure a healthier, more resilient future for the people and planet. While children and young people across the globe, especially girls, are the first affected by the climate crisis, they often remain the least empowered to influence climate change policy-making and action, despite their numerous solutions and contributions. In a recent poll run by UNICEF, 77% of young people in Maldives said that they were worried about the effects of climate change, and 92% said they wished to take more action, if provided with support. “We must recognize the climate crisis as a child right’s crisis,” said Marjan Montazemi, UNICEF Representative in Maldives. “For children and young people in Maldives, climate change is a direct threat to their schools, their health centers, and their very survival. Children and young people must be given center stage in all climate negotiations and decisions, and the world must accelerate action to reduce emissions, invest in climate adaptation, actively work with young people and provide children with climate education and green and blue skills.” Maldives has the lowest terrain of any country in the world: four-fifths of the country’s land is less than one meter above sea level. Erosion of the shoreline is already a severe issue in 64 percent of the Maldivian islands, and much critical infrastructure for children and families, including many schools, hospitals and health centers, sit within only 100m of shorelines. The country is predicted to become uninhabitable as early as 2050, and disappear before the end of the century. “Seeing the effects of climate change on my country firsthand has been devastating, especially the rising sea levels,” said Aishath Zeeba Hamid, 19 years old, from Male. “It is a constant reminder that my country is right at the forefront of danger. Further worldwide assistance and cooperation is required, not just for Maldives but all other small island nations suffering similar fates.” Plastic pollution and a limited waste management system remain a major challenge in Maldives, with islands across the country left littered with trash, a significant portion of which are single-use plastics which end up in the ocean and inside marine life. According to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, every year, 104 million non-biodegradable plastic bags are imported into the Maldives. Meanwhile, the archipelago suffers from severe water scarcity, with some islands requiring desalinated water to be shipped in by boat. Water insecurity is slated to increase the incidence of water and vector-borne diseases, destruction of ecosystems, and children’s access to sanitation facilities. The private sector is increasingly being recognized as key to boosting climate resilience through innovative solutions, transfer of expertise, technology, and financing. “To ensure private finance supports the shift to a low-carbon economy, every major financial decision will need to take climate change into account,” said Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Representative in Maldives. Maldives has taken ambitious steps to respond to the climate crisis and has been playing an active role on the world stage for over more than a decade, including with the country now holding the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly. Maldives committed to phasing out single use plastics by 2023 and net zero emissions by 2030, and is also actively supporting children and young people’s direct involvement in climate negotiations and decisions, especially within the context of COP26.

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Press Release

25 November 2020

Launching of UN75 Dialogues in Maldives

United Nations in Maldives officially launches the activities of the biggest global campaign to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. The virtual event was initiated by the UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell, in attendance of her Excellency the First Lady, Ministers of the Cabinet, Ambassadors and colleagues of the diplomatic community, UN colleagues, senior officials from Government institutions, private sector, civil society and other partners this morning. As the United Nations is marking this milestone at a time of great upheaval around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN75 Campaign will collectively bring people together across borders, sectors and generations to join the dialogue to address global challenges. With a special emphasis on participation of the youth and the most vulnerable, the campaign will aim to encourage open discussions about issues such as pandemics, the climate crisis and reducing inequalities to help Maldives to recover better. This Campaign will include a series of events throughout 2020. Through the UN75 activities, UN Maldives looks forward to marking the 55th year of Maldives’ membership of the UN by partnering with the Government, private sector, civil society organizations and the public to enhance engagement through virtual dialogues, media and social media platforms. These conversations will seek to identify ways in which Maldives can build back better through multilateral cooperation and investing in inclusive, resilient communities that leave no one behind. Speaking at the event, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Abdulla Shahid reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations and reiterated the Government’s support to the UN75 dialogues. He also believes that the UN75 initiatives will help Maldives to narrow gaps and build back better with stronger policies. The UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Catherine Haswell called on all partners and Maldivians to join the conversation and ensure that the Maldives is represented in the global discussions. She emphasized the importance of countries working together in a positive spirit of multilateralism to tackle global challenges and preserve development gains for all. UN Maldives expresses sincere appreciation to all our partners for joining the event to kick off UN75 and hopes that the future initiatives under this Campaign will generate ideas and strategies from across the country on the vision that Maldivians have for the future. 2020 also marks the Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Agreed in 2015, Member States agreed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs to be achieved by every country, by 2030. The UN supports the Maldives in making progress towards the SDGs, and more inclusive and sustainable development in the country.

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24 August 2022

Strengthening Child Protection systems with a multi-stakeholder approach: A priority for the Maldives

In June 2022, a multi-stakeholder delegation from the Maldives embarked on a five-day learning visit to Georgia to exchange and share good practices in the implementation of child rights codes and roll-out of related multi-disciplinary systems for child protection. The mission was facilitated by UNICEF offices in Georgia and in the Maldives. The delegation was oriented on the UNICEF support for children’s protection system strengthening agenda, and was led by the Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services (MoGFSS), accompanied by the Minister of Education (MoE), The Chief Judge of the Family Court, The Deputy Commissioner of Police, The Children’s Ombudsperson, a Member of Parliament from the Human Rights Committee, the Mayor of Favumulah as well as representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Social Services and UNICEF. Both Maldives and Georgia have had their key overarching legislation on child rights, for the former the Child Rights Protection Act as well as the Juvenile Justice Act, and the latter the Child Rights Code, approved in 2019. Also, both countries have been working steadily in improving child protection systems. Over the years, Georgia has developed an impressive track record of successful de-institutionalization of children by establishing family homes, some modeled after the SOS children’s village approach. The foster care system in Georgia is quite developed and some of the multi-disciplinary approaches that they have put in place prior to the approval of the code have proven to be very effective in addressing child rights. Further, Georgia has a very well-organized and recognized social work profession. For the Maldives delegation, the visit was very useful in having a perspective on the good initiatives already underway in the country such as the existing legislation and the related mechanisms (i.e. the Child Rights Council and the Children’s Ombudsperson), the existence of IBAMA model- community social groups that have been tested in seven atolls as a multi-sectoral prevention and referral mechanism at the island level as well as some of the efforts towards de-institutionalization of children. The exposure to other examples of interventions and measures from Georgia, such as the one-stop shop for the survivors of sexual violence, the organization of the social work profession, the collaborative approach by way of multi-disciplinary teams as well as the advanced foster care programme were deemed as among good practices that can accelerate results for children in both countries. Some of the key reflections from the visit included the need for the governments to ensure adequate allocation of resources for the effective implementation of the legislation and identify steps that can be taken to attract more young people to the social work profession to address capacity gaps in that sector. Further, to ensure child rights are protected and safeguarded, there must be good coordination and relationship between central and local governments and ensure mainstreaming of child rights understanding and learning across front line workers from different sectors who are dealing with children’s issues. In addition to that, delegates noted the importance of a multi-disciplinary, collaborative, and child-centered approach and systems for prevention, referral, and effective protection of children in the family, in schools, and in the community. During the visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, met the Parliamentary Council on the protection of the rights of the Child and the Chair of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, as well as meeting with the Minister of Health, Labour and Social Services, Minister of Education, and the Director of the Agency for State Care. They also met several NGOs working with the most vulnerable children in Georgia and visited the SOS Children’s Village. Held meetings with the Chairperson of the Association of Small Group Home Service Providers in Georgia, and the Co-Founder and Director of the association. held meetings at the Supreme Court of Georgia with the Chairperson and representatives from the Court of Georgia and Appellate Court Judges, and the Police. They visited a programme that supports children with disabilities and held talks with the Dusheti municipality Mayor and social service team. UNICEF reiterated its readiness to continue its technical assistance to the Government of Maldives in this journey.

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23 March 2022

Listening to young people’s voices – climate change and climate action

On October 20th, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, UNDP and the UN family in the Maldives, UNICEF co-hosted a hybrid event, “Our Climate, Our Present, Our Future: a small island developing state (SIDS) perspective” with 150 participants, mostly adolescent girls and boys and young people from the Maldives, and also some participants from other small island developing states (SIDS). As the world is mobilizing around the COP26 in Glasgow, this was an opportunity to hear from young people most affected by the climate change. In a recent publication, UNICEF has gathered compelling evidence that the Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis. Every child on earth is exposed to at least one climate and environmental hazard, such as heat waves, cyclones, droughts or floods. There is no secret that with the sea levels rising, low lying island states, such as the Maldives, are on the forefront of climate change. While speakers addressed eloquently the impact of climate change on the Maldives and other small island developing states (SIDS), this was also an opportunity to inspire action and instill hope by highlighting the agency of young people as agents of positive change and showcasing innovations and actions from the public and private sector. It was great to hear from young people asking panelists about how they can be more involved including in relation to influencing the private sector practices. Or what can be done to tackle waste management more efficiently and with less damage to the environment? In a recent survey of young people in South Asia, 77% of young people in Maldives said that they were worried about the effects of climate change, and 92% said they wished to take more action, if provided with support. Many are already taking action. For instance, one of the young participants, Zeeba has just shot a video of herself studying under water to call attention to her country sinking. Others young people across islands are doing beach clean-ups, are concerned about the health of coral reefs and mangroves, are using less plastic, are planting trees and protecting native trees, making decisions to ride a bike instead of a motorbike and advocating for clean and renewable energy. This video was shot along with 19 others young people participating in a workshop on climate change advocacy using videomaking, hosted by UNICEF in partnership with One Minute Junior Foundation in September/October of this year. More videos can be found here. One of the key learnings that came to fore and was highlighted from organizations in the Maldives, such as Save Kudafari and Precious Garbage, or the Ocean Clean Up in the Seychelles or Youth Climate Lab in Fiji, is the importance of organizing, the sense of community coming together regularly taking joint actions to preserve the environment. In the scale of things, sometimes individual acts may not seem enough to address the complexity of climate change but as many speakers highlighted, every action matters. “We can overcome this climate crisis, if we do all we can and I believe that meaningful participation of women, young children is also really important. I think if we work together, and if you are persistent if you are resilient and if you have the will to bring the change, you can definitely do it. Every one of you, you can use your voice.” Ameera Latheef – MNU student and representative of 'Dhihdhoo Kurimagu'. In the meantime, UNICEF Maldives is actively engaging in climate change programming, working with the Government to support the introduction of climate education into the school curriculum, and will be engaging adolescent girls and boys and young people to build their advocacy skills, reduce plastic pollution through behavior change campaigns, expand green and blue skills for young people and, through programmes like UPSHIFT, a programme to promote social innovation and entrepreneurial action by young people, to provide them with the tools, support systems, space and confidence to take innovative action to build climate resilience. While Maldives contributes only 0.003% to global greenhouse gas emissions, it has made a commitment to net zero emissions by 2030. As to the COP26, there are high expectations of states and businesses to step up and take action and make real and tangible commitments and uphold priorities identified by children and young people around the world. “We want to be a generation that takes care of the planet” Hassan Sodhig – founder of Save Kudafari – an environmental NGO Young people are taking action at their level, how about world leaders? Please follow the link to the agenda of the event, list of speakers and topics.

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08 July 2021

UN75-Maldives55 and Beyond: The role of creativity and innovation in human development

Last year, UN Maldives had the pleasure of working with the very talented Zuma and Reesha as part of a consultancy with Publicity Bureau on a special project to mark the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 55th year of Maldives as a member state. UN75 was a global conversation throughout 2020 on building a better future for all. Through surveys and dialogues, 1.5 million people from all countries and all walks of life were asked about their priorities for the future and ideas for action. Given that UN75 came at a time of great upheaval and crisis around the world, UN Maldives decided to focus the UN75 initiatives around the most prominent issues in the country context including the impact of digital technologies; conflict and violence; reducing inequalities; the climate crisis; investing in healthcare and closing the gender gap. The end products delivered by Zuma and Reesha were beyond our expectations and showed the key role that creativity and innovation play in human development. So the UN wanted to know more about the faces behind the designs, and had a chat to learn what makes them tick. Zuma and Reesha said that working on this project showed how much they were personally able to relate to the social and environmental issues and made them realize that everyone has a role to play in building a better future. Reesha says that the research aspect of the work helped her learn even more about the challenges faced by Maldivians and the socioeconomic impacts of COVID19, which was the vision driving her creations. Zuma felt a great responsibility to convey these important messages through her illustrations and was inspired to deliver a quality result. As most of the issues considered by UN75 were global threats, Zuma found it challenging to show the uniqueness of the Maldives culture and local context in the designs. Reesha on the other hand said that the hard work always lay in creating designs that are pleasing to everyone and staying true to design fundamentals. Both Zuma and Reesha have had an interest in art and illustrations since their childhood. Zuma has 4 years of professional experience while Reesha has completed 7 years in the field. As they put it, they have always known that this is the field they wanted to make their career, and they look forward to breaking more barriers in a field that was initially male-dominated in the Maldives, just a few years ago. When asked of the one thing the UN should support in Maldives, they believe it would be improving the accessibility of uninterrupted, quality expertise, knowledge, services and tools to everyone in Maldives including the communities outside of Male’ City, to ensure a more inclusive and sustainable future that leave no one behind.

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10 May 2021

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all of us, it posed unique challenges for children like Kyle, being forced to stay at home and switch to virtual learning

12-year-old Kyle has a passion for photography and enjoys capturing the environment, candid moments, and people’s hard work. He has had a strong interest in taking photos since he got his first digital camera at the age of eight. Kyle said that he was initially inspired by nature, often capturing natural surroundings and the ocean. Having his own camera helped him to research and learn new skills and with the help of his mother and family, he took to Instagram to share his photos with the public. His Instagram page features a compilation of photos, making his passion for capturing the day-to-day lives of the local Maldivian community evident. According to Kyle, in addition to people, some of his favorite captures are of cats and the ocean. While the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all of us, it posed unique challenges for children like Kyle, being forced to stay at home and switch to virtual learning. His interest in photography made it easier to cope with the pandemic. Kyle took the opportunity to capture our fight against COVID-19 and the process of people in Male’ adjusting to the new normal. His photos show that at such a young age Kyle has a unique talent to convey emotions through his captures especially in these challenging and unprecedented times for everyone, everywhere. Kyle says that his motivation comes from witnessing the patience and hard work of loved ones around him, especially his mother who is his biggest support system. At such a young age, Kyle believes that persistence and not giving up can lead the way to success. When he is not taking pictures, Kyle likes to express his creativity through drawing. He also spends his free time doing extra reading into photography on how to improve his captures as well as editing skills. In the future, he looks forward to progressing his skills to make a difference for communities through his work in photography.

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18 March 2021

"What makes me the happiest is not what I have achieved, it is what I have given back"

2020 was a difficult year for everyone, which impacted us all in different ways. For some, it was a year of fulfilling work to help their community. Aishatha Naura Naseem is a volunteer at Maldives Red Crescent (MRC). If you call 1425, you might just hear Naura’s voice. She provides psychosocial support to COVID-19 patients as part of the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) functions under the Health Emergency Operations Centre. Having lost her job at the beginning of 2020, Naura’s was determined to make a difference for humanity. As a volunteer on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response, Naura finds comfort in being able to help and support people get through the unique difficulties faced due to the pandemic. She believes that by giving back, she has also had an opportunity to learn and build her experience and confidence. In addition to her volunteer work, Naura is a STEM teacher for primary school children. She is passionate about teaching and enjoys interacting with children. She strongly believes that learning is a continuous journey and tries her best to teach her kids the same principle. 2020 proved to be a traumatic year, but Naura refused to give up hope. Volunteering gave her a new perspective, and she believes that her work as a volunteer has taught her key skills and knowledge which can help her in her career as a teacher. Her hope for the future is to see a world where helping each other is considered uplifting and empowering. She ended her story perfectly by saying, ‘What makes me the happiest is not what I have achieved, it is what I have given back.’

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Press Release

10 December 2022

The Human Rights Heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

From the time of its inception, the United Nations has recognized Human Rights as being fundamental to its mission. The UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948. It was drafted as a ‘a common standard of achievement for all people and nations’, spelling out for the first time in human history basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all human beings should enjoy. It has become widely accepted as the fundamental human rights that everyone should respect and protect. Every year on the 10th of December, the international community marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by celebrating International Human Rights Day. As we approach the 75th year of the adoption of the UDHR in 2023, a year-long campaign will showcase, celebrate, and focus on its legacy, and continued relevance, with the theme “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All” and the call to action “Stand Up for Human Rights.” Drafted by representatives with different legal, cultural, and religious backgrounds from all regions of the world, the UDHR is a set of universal, indivisible and inalienable rights, recognizing the equal dignity and worth of every person. It was the first time that the international community agreed on a set of common values and acknowledged that rights are inherent to every single human being, and not granted by the state. It continues to inspire movements for change for a more equal and inclusive world that benefits everyone. Human rights are guaranteed by treaties, customary international law, and other sources of law; for all of which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as both foundation and inspiration. All of this has then been voluntarily signed, ratified, and acceded to by UN Member States in their determination to respect and protect the rights of those within their respective jurisdictions. The Republic of Maldives is a State party to seven core human rights treaties encompassing broadly; civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights as well as more specifically on addressing torture, racial discrimination, discrimination against women, and upholding rights of the child and persons with disabilities. With regards to those legal commitments, many of the human rights treaties’ provisions are reflected in the Maldives legal framework. Most significantly, Chapter Two of the Maldives Constitution enshrines over 50 fundamental rights and freedoms, premised on the principles of non-discrimination and equality, ranging from the right to life and protection of the environment, to economic and social rights, freedom of expression, association and assembly, and the right to work and acquire property as well as prompt investigation and prosecution, and humane treatment of arrested or detained persons. In an address to the People’s Majlis in early 2022, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih spoke on the many strides the Maldives has made to promote and protect human rights in the country, while highlighting the ongoing challenges, particularly in the aftermath of the global Covid-19 pandemic. We applaud all efforts to improve human rights for all in the Maldives, while recognising that there is still much work to be done. One important step taken by the Maldives was the standing invitation issued to the UN Human Rights Council independent human rights experts - individuals and working groups known as Special Procedures. This year, the Maldives Government received two Special Procedures mandate holders. The Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism came last May and the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls visited the Maldives last September. These two experts recognized the same two fundamental issues as among the biggest hurdles to achieving full human rights for all in the Maldives. As already expressed by the President in his February speech at the Majlis earlier this year, the first issue is about extremism, which has taken root within Maldivian society. In this context, the exploitation of religion lays “bare the magnitude and complexity of the work required to combat violent extremism.” Recommendations by the visiting human rights experts may provide part of the normative framework necessary to amplify ongoing efforts to uproot extremism in society. “In order to address the challenges of violent extremism and terrorism in a human rights compliant manner, prison conditions must be improved, judicial independence must be assured, lawyers must be able to function effectively to defend persons charged of such offences, and the police must be accountable for any violations committed during investigations.” (Special Rapporteur, Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin) The second issue highlighted by both the Special Rapporteur and the Working Group is about the importance of the civic space for society. It is essential to ensure that non-governmental actors, such as civil society organizations and the media, can enjoy conditions in which they can uphold good governance and accountability of the authorities. The Government has a duty to create conditions that actively support the ability and capacity of persons, individuals or in association with others, to engage in civic activities. In looking at measures to improve civic space therefore, it requires cooperation between the State and civil society actors. Besides the two hurdles, the experts from the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls noted and welcomed “new laws and recent institutional measures focusing on gender equality”. At the same time, certain long-standing provisions are still discriminatory and punitive, denying women and girls full human rights and freedoms. In this regard, Gender-Based Violence is prevalent and even tolerated. “Survivors face many barriers in access to justice and remedies, and perpetrators enjoy impunity.” (Press Release – UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls) Earlier this year, the UN in the Maldives began implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the blueprint for all UN efforts in the Maldives through 2026. Central to the Cooperation Framework is the investment in people, based on principles of human rights, and gender equality, women’s empowerment, sustainable development and resilience. It is a joint commitment of the UN and the Government to support national development priorities and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while leaving no one behind. Bearing the above in mind, the European Union’s priorities for cooperation with the Maldives until 2027 focuses on the promotion of human rights, good governance, gender equality, inclusivity, and resilience as core themes. This EU support will be at the heart of the EU-Maldives’ partnership, which will rely, inter alia, on the Maldives Government’s determination to promote and protect human rights, including through its seat at the Human Rights Council for the term 2023 - 2025. As we enter the 75th year of the adoption of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights, the UN and EU look forward to assisting and supporting the Government in implementing effectively and meaningfully the recommendations from the various human rights mechanisms that Maldives is engaged with, whether the Human Rights Council, Special Procedures or Treaty Bodies, with the ultimate goal of ensuring dignity, freedom, and justice for all.

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Press Release

08 September 2022

Maldives: First visit by UN experts on discrimination against women and girls

“The Working Group is particularly interested in legislative reforms and policies that have been implemented in the Maldives to promote the rights of women and girls, eliminate structural discrimination and achieve substantive gender equality,” the experts said. The experts will examine multiple aspects of women’s and girls’ lives: political and public, economic and social, family and cultural life, health and safety, including gender-based violence against women and girls as a manifestation of discrimination and barriers to access to justice as crosscutting issues, employing a life cycle approach. “We are interested in learning about achievements and promising practices, as well as the local historical and cultural context and existing gaps and challenges in the spirit of engaging in a constructive dialogue”, the experts said. The experts, who are invited by the Government, will meet concerned stakeholders in Malé, Kulhudhuffushi in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Maafushi in Kaafu Atoll, Maduvaree in Raa Atoll, Guraidhoo and Gulheefalhu in Kaafu Atoll. They will pay particular attention to women and girls who encounter multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including among others those living in remote areas, women with disabilities, older women, migrant women, women in detention, and adolescent girls, as well as the gendered risks of climate change. They will meet with national and local authorities, women and girls, civil society organisations, academics, journalists, political leaders, UN entities and other international stakeholders. The visiting delegation will include Melissa Upreti and Meskerem Geset Techane, respectively Chairperson and Member of the Working Group. The experts will present their preliminary observations at a press conference on Thursday, 22 September 2022, at 2:00 pm (local time) at the Hotel Maagiri in Malé. Access to the press conference will be strictly limited to accredited journalists. The Working Group will submit its full report to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2023. ENDS The UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls was created by the Human Rights Council in 2011 to identify, promote and exchange views, in consultation with States and other actors, on good practices related to the elimination of laws that discriminate against women. The Group is also tasked with developing a dialogue with States and other actors on laws that have a discriminatory impact where women are concerned. The Working Group is composed of five independent experts: Ms Melissa Upreti (Nepal), Chairperson; Ms Dorothy Estrada Tanck (Mexico),Vice Chairperson; Ms Elizabeth Broderick (Australia); Ms Ivana Radačić (Croatia); and Ms Meskerem Geset Techane (Ethiopia). The Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms. Special Procedures mandate-holders are independent human rights experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. They are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organization. They serve in their individual capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.

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Press Release

23 August 2022

Unintended and Unwanted? 2 Babies Taken to State Care Every Month

UNFPA’s 2022 State of the World Population Report highlights that half of global pregnancies are unintended. In the Maldives, 24 babies were taken into state care in 2021 alone - which accounts to 2 babies per month - a crisis unfolding before our eyes. This year’s report titled "Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy", focuses on the global crisis that so many women and girls face on a daily basis. The report was launched on 7th of June 2022 in the Maldives by the First Lady Madam Fazna Ahmed. Coinciding with the call for action, the Villa College Institute of Research and Innovation (IRI), in collaboration with UNFPA conducted a high level panel discussion, highlighting the Maldivian context and leveraging policy makers to take much needed action. All Panelists stress that the Maldives situation is a crisis which needs urgent action. Dr. Ibrahim Zakjariyya Moosa, Vice Chancellor of the Islamic University of Maldives, emphasised how the Islamic Shariah forbids subjugation of women and obedience towards husbands without consent. Moreover the Islamic jurisprudence also provides an avenue for planned families in the society’s progress, a concept which is often debated and hinders women’s access to safe contraceptives. For the women affected, the most life-altering reproductive choice, whether or not to become pregnant – is no choice at all. Ms. Safiyya Moahmed Saeed, Deputy Minister for health highlights this and the fact that girls in the Maldives are often asked and pressured into marriage, when they are going to have a baby and how many - burdens the girl into adulthood and beyond. Humaida Abdul Gafoor also echoes this sentiment in which she shares her independent qualitative research into women’s plight and lack of access to reproductive services - duty bearer’s inaction and neglect has led to lack of information and services, especially for young people's autonomy to every part of the journey to pregnancy and parenthood. As such, we cannot blame or shame young people for adult’s inaction. The autonomy for women and girls is hindered when they are unable to access safe and proper contraceptive methods. Mohamed Shihab, Minister of State for Gender, Family and Social Services, nicely weaves the story of Haseena - a rights holder and an average woman living in our society. She bears a child at age 14 years, and gets rejected by her own family, neighbours and community - having to live on streets. She has no choice but to resort to sex work to feed herself and her child. Eventually her child also faces the same fate having to be married-off out of court at age 15, to a substance user. All of this leads to further rejection and marginalization from within the society. Such cases are common in the Maldives. They are all stuck in a life of violence and a never ending cycle of generational abuse within her family and community. How can we as duty bearers and service providers adequately offer her a dignified life ? Urgent action is needed now to alleviate such barriers and change the harmful norms in our society - to empower women like Haseena to take charge of her own life. “We want the society to view women as a whole - not just their pregnant bellies and babies” - stresses Shadiya Ibrahim, Head of Office of UNFPA Maldives. Our hope is that with these discussions we can bring a ripple effect where policy makers are better aware of the lived realities of women and girls in our society, to mitigate unintended pregnancies and provide necessary services for all. Let us all view women and girls as whole human beings - with their right to a dignified life free from violence!

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Press Release

23 August 2022

Call for inputs from the mandate of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls for its country visit to Maldives

Background The UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls will conduct a country visit to the Maldives in order to gain first-hand understanding of issues related to discrimination against women and girls, including efforts made and remaining challenges. The Working Group will consider all forms of discrimination in law and in practice relating to all areas of women’s lives, namely public and political life, economic and social life, including corporate responsibility, family and cultural life and health and safety. These issues are addressed in the Working Group’s thematic reports to the Human Rights Council. Violence against women and access to justice will be examined as cross-cutting issues. Throughout the visit, the Working Group will pay particular attention to women who encounter multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. This list of issues is indicative, and the Working Group might look at other issues as they emerge during the visit including women from minority groups, women with disabilities, rural women, older women, women in prostitution/sex work, LBTI women, migrant women, women in detention etc. For this purpose, the WGDAW will meet with a broad range of national stakeholders involved in all aspects of work related to the elimination of discrimination against women, including Government officials, public authorities, independent institutions, civil society organizations, academics and victims, with a view to examining issues related to discrimination against women and girls in the country. Objectives At the end of the visit, the Working Group will present an end-of-mission statement and/or press release containing preliminary findings and recommendations for State and non-State actors to implement. The full mission report will be presented at the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council in June 2023. Key questions and types of input sought Thus, civil society actors and all interested stakeholders are encouraged to submit general inputs and specific proposals with regards to: Context Impact of social attitudes on women’s and girls’ life including social, economic, political, cultural, family, health and safety. Disparities in the country in the enjoyment of women’s and girls’ rights. Achievements and possible limitations of the functioning of institutions working on women’s rights. Constitutional and other legislative initiatives and reforms to recognise women’s rights, gender equality and non-discrimination. Family and cultural life of women The role of women and men in the family including with regard to child raising, care work and housework. Women and property, including division of matrimonial property in divorce and inheritance laws. Legal sources of family law, legal definition of family. Legislation on: marital status, polygamy, custody rights, nationality, adultery and modesty codes. Gender-based stereotypes, including in the media, and participation in the cultural life. Economic and social life of women Women in full time employment, women in informal, temporary, and part-time work, and wage gaps. Categories/field of work where women are mostly represented/underrepresented. Women in business. Women and poverty. Child and family friendly policy measures to encourage, support women participation in the labour force, to reconcile work and family, childcare support, including the impact of the comprehensive plan for the reconciliation of work and family life in the administration. Corporate responsibility, economic leadership of women, including representation on the boards of listed companies. Achievement of women in education. Women's access to education, including higher education. Human rights and comprehensive scientific based sexual education Political and public life of women Participation of women in all spheres of public and political life at the central and local levels, including in the executive, the legislative and the judiciary: achievements and challenges. Gender stereotypes and possible violence in the political life. Challenges faced by women human rights defenders Women’s rights and access to health Enjoyment of the right to health, including sexual and reproductive health rights; access to health services, including prevention services, maternal health and abortion services; guarantee of women’s safety, integrity and bodily autonomy. Physical and mental safety (this may include violence against women in the public space and in closed institutions as well as women’s access to justice to secure their right to health and security. Special legal reforms and practices to promote non-discrimination and gender equality with regard to health, in particular regarding: equal right to enjoy the highest available standard of health; equal access to all forms of healthcare at the highest available level; equal right to enjoy benefits of scientific progress and its application in medicine; and access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion. Actions from the State to promote gender equality and non-discrimination, including measures, policies and national action plans, to ensure women’s safety, including in confined spaces (e.g., detention facilities, pre-deportation centres, camps for displaced women and families) or opened spaces (e.g., transports). Access to information and to education regarding sexual and reproductive health services. Forced child pregnancy and teenage pregnancy. Access of rural and minority women to health services, including sexual and reproductive health services. Women in situations of prostitution/sex work. Violence against women as a crosscutting theme Statistical data (estimated prevalence, number of cases reported, number of cases brought to justice, number of sentences). Legal framework on all forms of gender-based violence, including, inter alia, domestic violence, psychological violence, sexual violence (incl. marital rape), sexual harassment, violence perpetrated by State actors etc. Implementation of the legal framework. Services for the protection, care and rehabilitation of victims of violence in the context of economic crisis. Awareness and capacity building of public officials. Women who encounter multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination

including rural women, minority women, women with disabilities, lesbian and transgender women, older women and women in detention. Women's access to justice Situations faced by women in accessing justice (existence of free legal aid, gender-based stereotyping in the justice system, etc.) Existence of human rights training for judges, international Promising practices in relation to the protection and promotion of women’s and girls’ human rights How and where to submit inputs You do not need to provide inputs to all the issues mentioned above, but you can focus on the ones relevant to your area of work. If you reply after 11 September 2022, your submission might not be considered during the country visit but will be taken into account in the drafting process of the Working Groups’ report before the Human Rights Council in 2023. Treatment of inputs received Submission will remain confidential. They will be considered during the country visit and will be taken into account for the Working Group’s report before the Human Rights Council in 2023.

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