United Nations in Maldives

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Press Release

07 May 2023

Joint Steering Committee Meeting

(02 May 2023, Male’): The Government of Maldives and the United Nations in Maldives convened the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Meeting today. The UNSDCF is the blueprint for the UN development system’s support to the Maldives’ national priorities for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The JSC is the governing body of the UNSDCF. It is co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives and the United Nations Resident Coordinator and includes representatives of Government Ministries, and United Nations agencies, funds, and programmes with operational activities in the Maldives. The JSC meets annually to review progress made in the previous year, identify the challenges and review the plans ahead and provide strategic direction and advice for the implementation of the UNSDCF. This is the first meeting of the JSC to discuss the implementation of the UNSDCF in 2022 and the plans for 2023. In 2022, fifteen UN entities partnered with Government, young people, Local Councils and Women’s Development Committees, State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Organizations for Persons with Disabilities and representatives of migrants and organizations working on migrant issues, CSOs, private sector, and international community towards achieving the UNSDCF’s results of shared prosperity and inclusive human development for all, sustainable and climate resilient environment, gender-responsive, rights-based and accountable governance and justice. At the center of the UNSDCF implementation is the focus on investing in people. The implementation of the UNSDCF is rights-driven and upholds the principles of gender equality and women’s empowerment, sustainable development and resilience, and accountability, ensuring that no one is left behind. The details of the results achieved, the challenges faced and the lessons learned in 2022 for the UNSDCF implementation are outlined in the ‘UN Maldives Annual Report 2022’. Through joint efforts, the Government of Maldives and the UN hope to achieve significant progress in the Maldives’ journey where all people meaningfully participate in, contribute to, and benefit equitably from sustainable cultural, economic, and social development and environmental protection, by 2026. Speaking at the JSC Meeting, Secretary, Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Maldives Co-chair for the JSC, Dr. Hussain Niyaz noted that the Cooperation Framework provides the opportunity to meet the exigencies of the Government while also allowing to revisit and revitalize the different contours of partnerships between the UN and the Maldives to fulfill the national development priorities envisioned in the current Strategic Action Plan (SAP 2019-2023). The UN Resident Coordinator and the UN’s co-chair for the JSC, Ms. Catherine Haswell thanked the Government and the stakeholders for their active engagement in implementing the first year of the UNSDCF. Recognising that 2023 marks the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with only 7 years remaining to achieve the SDGs, she encouraged all partners to work together and accelerate progress so that no Maldivians are left behind. She further highlighted the opportunity of the Global SDG Summit to be held in September 2023 in New York as a critical opportunity for the Maldives to reiterate its commitment to achieving the SDGs for the benefit of all Maldivians. (02 May 2023, Male’): The Government of Maldives and the United Nations in Maldives convened the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Meeting today. The UNSDCF is the blueprint for the UN development system’s support to the Maldives’ national priorities for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The JSC is the governing body of the UNSDCF. It is co-chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives and the United Nations Resident Coordinator and includes representatives of Government Ministries, and United Nations agencies, funds, and programmes with operational activities in the Maldives. The JSC meets annually to review progress made in the previous year, identify the challenges and review the plans ahead and provide strategic direction and advice for the implementation of the UNSDCF. This is the first meeting of the JSC to discuss the implementation of the UNSDCF in 2022 and the plans for 2023. In 2022, fifteen UN entities partnered with Government, young people, Local Councils and Women’s Development Committees, State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), Organizations for Persons with Disabilities and representatives of migrants and organizations working on migrant issues, CSOs, private sector, and international community towards achieving the UNSDCF’s results of shared prosperity and inclusive human development for all, sustainable and climate resilient environment, gender-responsive, rights-based and accountable governance and justice. At the center of the UNSDCF implementation is the focus on investing in people. The implementation of the UNSDCF is rights-driven and upholds the principles of gender equality and women’s empowerment, sustainable development and resilience, and accountability, ensuring that no one is left behind. The details of the results achieved, the challenges faced and the lessons learned in 2022 for the UNSDCF implementation are outlined in the ‘UN Maldives Annual Report 2022’. Through joint efforts, the Government of Maldives and the UN hope to achieve significant progress in the Maldives’ journey where all people meaningfully participate in, contribute to, and benefit equitably from sustainable cultural, economic, and social development and environmental protection, by 2026. Speaking at the JSC Meeting, Secretary, Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Maldives Co-chair for the JSC, Dr. Hussain Niyaz noted that the Cooperation Framework provides the opportunity to meet the exigencies of the Government while also allowing to revisit and revitalize the different contours of partnerships between the UN and the Maldives to fulfill the national development priorities envisioned in the current Strategic Action Plan (SAP 2019-2023). The UN Resident Coordinator and the UN’s co-chair for the JSC, Ms. Catherine Haswell thanked the Government and the stakeholders for their active engagement in implementing the first year of the UNSDCF. Recognising that 2023 marks the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and with only 7 years remaining to achieve the SDGs, she encouraged all partners to work together and accelerate progress so that no Maldivians are left behind. She further highlighted the opportunity of the Global SDG Summit to be held in September 2023 in New York as a critical opportunity for the Maldives to reiterate its commitment to achieving the SDGs for the benefit of all Maldivians.

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Press Release

22 March 2023

MALDIVES INTEGRATED NATIONAL FINANCING FRAMEWORK (INFF)

Malé, March 21, 2023: The Maldives Minister of Finance has formally endorsed the Maldives Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). The Maldives INFF delivers a comprehensive financing strategy on climate action and provides a set of highly action-oriented strategies to unlock both domestic and external resources; from the private sector, international financing institutions, philanthropic, and impact and cause-driven sources of financing, to augment and scale-up existing public sources of financing towards climate and social sector financing needs. The strategy aims to support the financing of the Maldives Strategic Action Plan (2019-2023), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other national and sectoral development plans to enable the achievement of the national and international climate and sustainable development commitments made by the country. The INFF is a core priority identified in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026 between the UN and the Government of Maldives. The financing strategy puts achieving gender-equality at the heart of all financing actions, as an important cross-cutting theme and provides specific policy options to ensure that the actions proposed under the strategy are gender-sensitive. Following the launch of the INFF, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer announced the intention to establish the Maldives Climate Finance Hub (MCFH) within the Ministry of Finance, with the technical assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as the primary mechanism to implement the financing strategy and provide overall technical expertise to the Ministry of Finance and other relevant sector ministries and agencies on climate finance matters. An Advisory Board will be established with representation from national and international stakeholders, to provide advice and guidance to the MCFH. The INFF is a global UN initiative being implemented in more than 86 countries worldwide to finance National Development Plans (NDPs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are currently 18 Small Developing Island States (SIDS) developing their own INFFs and today, the Maldives becomes the first SIDS country to develop and formally endorse an INFF and financing strategy. Speaking at the INFF launch, Minister Ameer stated, “This financing strategy will advance the Maldives climate agenda, to transform our economy away from fossil fuel dependency, strengthen resilience to external shocks, and drive existing and new investments towards sustainable and inclusive growth.” The development of the Maldives INFF began under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance in June 2020. Through a United Nations Joint Programme led by the UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Maldives provided technical advisory to the Ministry of Finance to develop the INFF. The process of INFF development was spearheaded by a high-level Steering Committee consisting of 13 Government agencies, co-chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance of the Maldives, Ibrahim Ameer and by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Catherine Haswell. The INFF is the result of an extensive consultative process whereby, stakeholders from public, private, NGOs, industry bodies and IFIs provided support and input. United Nations Resident Coordinator Catherine Haswell noted the importance of the delivery of this work, in the context of intergovernmental negotiations for the next COP on Climate Action in Egypt in November 2023, the currently ongoing meeting on the Global Goal for Adaptation (GGA) being hosted by the Maldives, the 2023 UN Water Conference (22-24 March), and the SDG Summit in New York in September. Moreover, it is a critical piece which demonstrates the expertise and role of the UN in upper middle-income countries as a provider of integrated policy advice with the potential to unlock a series of portfolios which can accelerate delivery of the 2030 Agenda. UNDP Resident Representative in the Maldives, Enrico Gaveglia congratulated Minister Ameer, and stated, “You have often been confronted with denial of market access because of unfavorable demographic accounting or the so-called economies of scale. I can assure you, if we all manage to put a value tag to your natural resources, you’d leapfrog to be the holder of a global natural asset that shall be safeguarded with all our efforts simply because it benefits all – you in Maldives and elsewhere.” This collaboration between United Nations and the Ministry of Finance continues the value-added joint effort in enhancing the parallel implementation of the Maldives’ development agenda, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Gender-Responsive Integrated Climate Financing Strategy endorsed by the Government of Maldives can be accessed at https://www.finance.gov.mv/public/attachments/lzyzZHIHy0ZWB7Yl17aw16YkFhE5o8DfVxThmruO.pdf

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22 August 2023

How Early Warnings For All Helps To Reduce The Vulnerability of Maldives

MALDIVES is a low-lying island nation comprised of estimated 1,192 islands separated in 26 natural atolls, of which 187 islands are inhabited, spread across 90,000 square kilometers in the Indian Ocean. The country and its people face every day the constant risk of climate change due to its unique geography. Maldives enjoys a warm and humid tropical monsoon climate with an annual mean temperature of 28°C. The islands experience little variation in temperatures throughout the year, with two distinct seasons. The southwest monsoon (wet season) normally extends from mid-May to November. The northeast monsoon (dry season) extends from January to March. The months of December and April are considered the monsoon transitional periods. Among many other environmental risks, the Maldives is vulnerable to growing loss and damage and more frequent and severe storm surges, heatwaves, and extreme weather hazards, with sea level rise a constant threat. Maldives experiences frequent seasonal events with low intensity but high frequency, including monsoonal flooding, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and flooding caused by intense sea surges due to rising sea levels. Given that 75% of the Maldives’ land area is situated less than one meter above the average sea level, even a slight increase in sea level poses an exceptionally significant threat. Climate change can exacerbate these weather events, and Maldives is already experiencing stronger storm surges, increased wind speeds, and heavier rainfall, resulting in flooding, property damage, and loss of lives. Global warming that accelerates rising sea levels can lead to coastal erosion, inundation of low-lying areas, and saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources, impacting agriculture, infrastructure, and human settlements. Of the already limited land for agriculture, an estimated 13% of this is located below 1 meter (above mean sea level) and under threat of impacts related to sea level rise. Small islands and atolls often have limited land area and concentrated populations, making them more susceptible to climate-driven impacts. The availability of arable land, freshwater resources, and suitable sites for infrastructure development are scarce, and with climate change exacerbating these challenges, and with an already narrow buffer within which to navigate, adaptation options are few and far between. Maldives’ dependence on tourism and fisheries means that the nation has a narrow economic base. Fisheries itself remains one of the biggest sources of employment, and ‘fish and fish products’ account for almost 98% of Maldives exports. Climate change impacts such as coral reef degradation, loss of biodiversity, and extreme weather events can disrupt these industries, leading to economic losses, unemployment, and reduced livelihood options for local communities. The capital city Malé, where one-third of the country’s population resides, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. This concentration of people, infrastructure, and economic activities in limited space exacerbates the vulnerability to climate change impacts. UN-ESCAP estimated that up to 53 per cent of population is likely to be exposed to intensified risk of rainwater related flooding by 2060, under a climate change scenario; the at-risk population are concentrated in the capital city. Displacement and relocation of communities due to sea-level rise or extreme weather events becomes more challenging when there are limited alternative areas for resettlement, especially since other islands and atolls pose the same geographical vulnerability with even less established infrastructure to accommodate climate-related displacements. In 2023, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, announced Early Warnings for All (EW4All) as a call to action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by multi-hazard early warning systems by 2027. On 4 July, a national consultation and launch of Early Warnings for All (EW4All) was convened in the Maldives, and hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Technology, in cooperation with the United Nations Country Team in the Maldives, led by the UN Resident Coordinator with support from UNDRR and WMO as global co-leads for EW4All. The EW4All national consultation and launch was presided by H.E. Ms. Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology (MoECCT), and co-chaired by Ms. Khadeeja Naseem, State Minister and the UN Resident Coordinator, Catherine Haswell. Other national leads of the four EW4ALL Pillars included: Mr. Mohamed Shareef, State Minister, National Centre for Information Technology (NCIT); Mr. Hisan Hassan, Chief Executive, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Mr. Abdulla Wahid, Director General of the Maldives Meteorological Service (MMS); and Ms. Fathimath Himya, Secretary General of the Maldives Red Crescent (MRC). Figure 1. Sea level anomaly under baseline and climate change scenario for Maldives (left) and Agricultural areas in Maldives exposed to 1 m sea level rise under climate change scenario (Right) Building on the existing regulation and operationalization of EWS in the Maldives, the Government of Maldives, with the support of the UN under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator for the Maldives, has quickly convened technical expertise from the four pillar leads in the region, in order to boost political momentum for and achievement of the EW4All Action Plan by 2027. It builds on the decades of efforts in the disaster risk reduction and management space by the UNDP and UNDRR, with additional expertise provided by UNESCAP, UNEP and GEO. THE FOUR PILLARS OF EW4ALL ARE LED AS FOLLOWS PILLAR 1: DISASTER RISK KNOWLEDGE (National Disaster Management Authority, with support from UNDPR) PILLAR 2: OBSERVATIONS AND FORECASTING (Maldives Meteorological Service, with support from WMO) PILLAR 3: WARNING DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION (National Centre for Information Technology, with support from the International Telecommunications Union) PILLAR 4: PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE (Maldives Red Crescent, with support from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Crescent Societies) Women’s rates of literacy can be lower than men’s, especially among the elderly. Consequently, women are often unaware of information regarding vision loss, or other eye health conditions and can be less likely to know about the possibility of treatment or where to go to receive it. Research conducted in South India suggests literacy levels among individuals with a vision impairment are predictors of receiving cataract surgery. Lack of education can also lead women to believe that they have been cursed with blindness or that they simply have bad luck. When they feel they lack agency or control in their daily life and health-seeking, women often de-prioritise their own eye health. In the first national consultation of EW4ALL in the Asia Pacific region, and the first SIDS globally, the UN Resident Coordinator to the Maldives recalled the fundamental role of multi-hazard early warning systems in reducing loss of lives and livelihoods of Maldivians across the 187 local islands, and as host to foreigners in 170 resort islands. Ms. Haswell noted the significant progress made in the country, and the determination of the respective Pillar leads to collaborate in reaching every person in the Maldives before the end of 2027. H.E Aminath Shauna, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology highlighted early warning as a key piece for adaptation strategy: “Maldives is the first Asian country and first SIDS to initiate the UN Secretary General’s Early Warnings For All program. As one of the most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis, it is critical that we build our national capacity in early warning and preparedness, and this is a key piece of our adaptation strategy. Early warning systems are cost-effective, saving lives, reducing economic losses, and providing a nearly tenfold return on investment. Our islands are numerous, as are our needs, but we are hopeful that through this program, we can drive the support and action needed to ensure every Maldivian is covered by multi-hazard early warning systems.” As a call to scale up national action, EW4All can play a crucial role in accelerating investment to address the vulnerability of the Maldives to climate change by improving early warning systems and enhancing resilience by: Improved risk data collection and monitoring: Promoting open access and sharing of data and analyses on hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities to climate-related risks, and enhancing meteorological and hydrological monitoring systems in the Maldives. This includes installing weather stations, tide gauges, and river flow sensors to collect essential data on climate parameters. Accurate and timely data is crucial for detecting and predicting climate-related hazards and issuing early warnings to the most-at-risk can take early and anticipatory action. Technological advancements: Facilitating the adoption and implementation of advanced technologies, such as remote sensing, satellite imagery, and modelling tools. These technologies can improve the accuracy and lead time of early warnings by providing real-time data, mapping hazard patterns, and predicting the intensity and trajectory of climate-related events. Strengthening communication infrastructure: Supporting the development and enhancement of communication infrastructure in Maldives, including radio networks, mobile networks, and internet connectivity. Reliable communication channels are essential for disseminating early warning messages to communities, ensuring that the information reaches the most vulnerable populations in a timely manner. Public awareness, education and enhanced preparedness and responses: Expanding public awareness campaigns and educational programs to educate the population of Maldives about climate change risks, the importance of early warnings, and appropriate response actions. Increased awareness and knowledge will enable individuals and communities’ preparedness and response plans. Capacity building and training: Delivering demand-driven technical assistance and capacity-building programs to strengthen the skills and knowledge of government agencies, meteorological departments, disaster management organizations, and local communities. This includes training in risk assessment, loss and damage accounting, data analysis, hazard assessment, impact-based forecasting, early warning dissemination, and response planning. Building local capacity ensures effective management and sustainability of early warning systems. EW4All underscores the importance of scaling up collaboration and knowledge sharing among different stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, research institutions, and local communities. Sharing best practices, lessons learned, and experiences from other countries facing similar challenges can help Maldives strengthen its early warning systems and adopt innovative approaches. BUILDING ON GAPS AND NEEDS IDENTIFIED IN DAY 1, The second day of the consultation focused on concretising the national priorities that could be addressed under a new Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposal. Prior to the launch of EW4All, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has been supporting the Maldives to develop a GCF concept note “Toward Risk-Aware and Climate-resilienT communities (TRACT) – Strengthening climate services and impact-based multi-hazard early warning in Maldives”. With the recent go-ahead from the GCF Climate Investment Committee to develop the concept into a full proposal, the timing is opportune to ensure that the TRACT project provides a tangible means to translate the talk into action. The TRACT project will ensure holistic, whole-value-chain approach to establishing a people-centred, impact-based multi-hazard early warning system in Maldives. It will concurrently address capacity development needs across the four pillars of EW4All, which is essential to overcome the ‘last mile’ barriers that impede the full use and benefit of early warning systems (EWS). Maldives is also in the first batch of Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) programming countries, with UNEP as its Implementing Entity. The SOFF is a key delivery mechanism of the EW4All initiative, providing technical and financial assistance to close gaps in essential weather and climate observations. The proposed TRACT project will leverage SOFF investments to reinforce capacity development efforts across the entire EWS value chain. Maldives is also benefitting from support from the ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami Disaster and Climate Preparedness, in particular through support from the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES). For more information please contact: UN Resident Coordinator’s Office – Ms. Huda Adam (huda.adam@un.org) UNDRR – Mr. Andrew Spezowka (andrew.spezowka@un.org) WMO – Muhibuddin Usamah (musamah@wmo.int) UNEP – Mr. Jochem Zoetelief (jochem.zoetelief@un.org) ESCAP – Ms. Temily Isabella Baker (temily.baker@un.org) ENDNOTES https://www.meteorology.gov.mv/climate https://www.cfe-dmha.org/Publications/Disaster-Management-Reference-Handbooks

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14 May 2023

Fostering the Power of Young Maldivians

A recent survey supported by USAID showed that 94% of them believe young people should be more involved in political decision-making, and only 47% thought that their local councils engaged with the community effectively.

While strengthening academic and employment opportunities and the inclusion of young people in decision making has been highlighted as a priority for the Government, donors and civil society, the tangible impacts of the policies are slow to be felt by young people, with 28% of youth aged 15 – 35 being out of employment, education or training.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Maldives, Catherine Haswell, heard similar concerns during her visits last year to twenty of the 182 local islands that make up the archipelagic country in the Indian Ocean. That inspired Ms. Haswell to lead the design of the UN Maldives Youth Strategy, which places young people at the heart of the UN’s development efforts. “I was meeting plenty of enthusiastic people, who wanted to become engaged in UN’s efforts, while noticing that in our daily work, most of our conversations were with Government ministries and traditional partners. I decided to reach out directly to young people through social media, to find young people in their own spaces. From here, the UN Maldives Youth Strategy was born,” said Ms. Haswell.

“We need young voices to be heard – and policies and decisions that give practical opportunities for meaningful work, education opportunities. The UN has a unique role to play here to help get sensitive issues on the table of decision makers, with the unique policy advice that UN agencies provide to Government”, she added regarding the Youth Strategy. Also stemming from the visits and showcasing its convening power, the UN in Maldives helped a group of local young volunteers organise a community event with over 200 people last year, providing logistical support and staff. The Kandu Faaraverin (“Ocean Guardians”) Games included challenges to surmount across the greater capital area, to highlight the impact of human actions on the oceans. This initiative started a movement of young people which continues to gain momentum and plan new activities. Because there are limited opportunities for young people to mobilise, and with credibility to ask for partnerships and resources, the Resident Coordinator Office and the UN country team were instrumental in making it happen, creating a space for youth engagement. And this was not the only one. The UN in Maldives also convened people in the islands around a youth meeting space named Zuvaanunge Holhuashi, to discuss issues facing the community. Mental health, access to justice, healthy relationships, and employment were some of the challenges the young participants highlighted. “With this initiative, young people have more opportunities to give their opinions and views in decision making process, governance of the nation, and how policies are formulated as well. Getting the youth’s contribution and involvement in developing and executing high impact projects and policies are important for the development of the Maldives,” said 25-year-old Moosa Meekail Ahmed Jaleel. The youth meeting space will be carried forward to other islands, and across the country, this year. The Resident Coordinator’s leadership has established the framework for the UN Maldives’ team to share its powerful platform with young people in leadership, public engagement, and decision making for their future. “Young Maldivians are burning with creative ideas on how to do things better. We don’t need to teach them or empower them. We just need to give them the spotlight and listen to the leaders of the future,” said Ms. Haswell.

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08 March 2023

Fathimath Zimna, An Advocate for Decent Work

My role as a leader is to empower and educate workers to ensure safe working conditions, promote rights at work, and engage with relevant national and international stakeholder institutions to promote social dialogue. The trade union movement in the Maldives is very young and vibrant, and it was a transformative journey for a person to play an integral role as a leader. Our main work was around campaigning and lobbying to relevant government agencies and institutions to enact an Industrial Relations (IR) Act and an Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH), which are in line with the international labour standards. My few years as a leader of the trade union movement in the Maldives have been a transformative journey, both professionally and personally. The first minimum wage in the Maldives is a significant milestone for the labour movement, and I am glad that I was able to play a crucial role in the fixing of the minimum wage as a board member on the Minimum Wage Advisory Board. I was privileged to be brought up by a father who believed that the girl child should be provided with equal access to education and build an identity of her own. Hence, growing up, I was given all opportunities and choices of study and career. Furthermore, because I was born during a period when the Maldives government regarded education as a basic human right, there was no difference in my opportunities for growth and education as a girl. The main challenge is to navigate personal life, professional work, and the volunteer role as a trade union leader. The magnitude of the burden is reduced because I am blessed to have a very supportive partner and a caretaker for my children. Male peers and colleagues with whom I work in the trade union movement have been a huge support for my leadership development.

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08 March 2023

Hamsha Hussain, Co-Founder of Zero Waste Maldives

Hamsha Hussain is a driven and passionate climate advocate and co-founder of Zero Waste Maldives, a non-government organisation aiming to promote a ‘Zero Waste Low Impact Lifestyle in the Maldives’ with a vision to eliminate waste in our environment through education and awareness, provision of alternatives as well as ‘waste to wealth’ programmes. Hamsha is an architect by profession with a keen interest in architectural heritage. She did her Bachelor of Architectural design from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. As a women living in a country facing an existential climate crisis, Hamsha has been exploring solutions to reduce waste. As such, Hamsha has the opportunity to partner with UNFPA on a pilot project that links waste reduction and climate action to female menstrual health – the Cupvert Project. This project has opened up a platform to raise awareness on these issues and introduce sustainable solutions to meet the demands of women and girls. Talking about her professional life, Hamsha says, “I have mostly had positive experiences in my career and have not faced significant challenges due to my gender. However, there have been instances where I have felt excluded in male-dominated environments, which can be intimidating. In such situations, I have been lucky to receive valuable advice from my colleagues on how to handle the situation.” Hamsha is an inspiration to many young women and girls. Her work has contributed immensely towards breaking the stigma and creating space for conversations around reproductive health, especially amongst young people, marginalised communities, including persons with disabilities. In 2021, she hosted a webinar on Menstrual Health Day, the first public discussion on menstrual health together with UNFPA and SHE. The same year Hamsha and her team hosted a session for the deaf community, introducing issues of reproductive health and sustainable period products, furthering efforts to expand critical information to everyone and to ensure no one is left behind. She recounts these sessions as some of her proudest achievements. Going back to her academic roots, Hamsha also recollects the time she worked to see the reassembly of Kalhuvakaru Mosque in 2019 as one of the highest achievements of her professional career as an architect. As a women supporting women, especially young women and girls, this is what Hamsha wants to say “It is really easy to lose yourself in something that you are passionate about. But always remember to take care of your physical and mental well-being.”

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08 March 2023

Dr. Zeba un Naher, A Dedicated Medical Professional Focused on Science and Technology

Dr. Zeba un Naher offers well-developed knowledge of medical science as she is a dedicated medical professional and teacher with Laboratory experience in Biochemistry. To reach this stability took an eventful journey. Since April 2019 She has been working as assistant professor at School of medicine Maldives National University. She is not only one of the first three faculties but also one of the pioneer researchers of school of medicine. Before that from 2014 she worked as a consultant in biochemistry at the IGMH Department of Laboratory Medicine. She has worked with the Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) as a volunteer since 2017 to present in various important capacities. As the most important engagement with MRC, she supported information dissemination and contact tracing during the lockdown phase of Covid 19 operations. Her commitment to the operation was remarkable and MRC mentioned “MRC grateful for the service she offered including the translation service as part of the Covid 19 information dissemination operation…. Dr. Zeba Un Naher is an outstanding individual with many admirable qualities. She is well known for her positive attitude. She is well respected throughout the organization for being the “go-to” person for all migrant health issues, and a resource person with a wide range of knowledge”. Dr. Zeba very recently attached with MMWM also. Her young life is not exceptional than thousands of Bangladeshi Girls' motivation to pursue a career in medicine, obstacles they face in real life, such as arranged marriage and pregnancy, their predisposition to select a limited number of specialties, and circumstances that put them in danger of quitting Dream. But her fortunate dream had a north star to keep her focused on goal. Like other women Dr. Zeba has been trying to break away from norms and standards set by society. Under untold pressure she has to take a job which not maintaining minimum hygiene or ethical policy. Whole life is a story about marching for equal rights and fighting for a rightful place in the world. It was not very easy to keep engaged with the lab full time along with male colleagues with dignity. To get a job in university you should have merit and for better position and to have sustainability in a male dominating society you need to prove that you are not only equal but also better than your male colleague and you have to update with modern technology, she is a survivor of workplace bullying and even pregnancy discrimination. Fewer publications, decreased visibility, diminished recognition, and, most importantly, decreased funding, as well as the exclusion of women from the research team is some of the bitter truth observed by her. Migration of her husband as consultant ophthalmologist led her to leave her 13 years university job and accompany him to keep the family together, to make sure that children will be brought up in harmony and a nice family environment. When she arrived here with a job through an agent came to know that having the same degree MD in clinical Biochemistry, she had been appointed as a Medical Officer post rather than consultant because the assigned hospital does not have the post for consultant Biochemistry. As a humanitarian worker far from home there was a challenge of balancing her between working hours, family and humanitarian worker, sometimes inclusiveness was in question and working in a crucial way keeping in mind social stigma and stereotype. The method by which Dr. Zeba develops the power and influence over her own life as well as the capacity to overcome the obstacles that still remain bright as daylight in her mind. It started with breaking every day stairs up to the sixth floor with full term pregnancy. Being able to stay awake the whole night so that she can get a quiet time to listen to recorded lectures of the teachers and study from the main book. Not missing any class and practicing to be a good auditory learner when her fellow medical students are discussing. Facing the social stigma, sometimes by the very close one as you are mother no need to be desperate, each day the new challenges made her stronger and develop an attitude. She develops her support system by explaining parents the possible obstacles and the situation she was going through, keeping alive some of her hobby, do not know how but her son became source of joy and inspiration It was not very easy to keep engaged with the lab full time along with male colleagues with dignity. She had to face many difficulties. There were obstacles in every step, though we are telling women empowerment and equality always. She faced male coworker saying that from colleagues that working in the laboratory till night and using the university corridors, roads at that time is not safe for women. Bullied by coworkers as you are trying to keep your dignity and ethics. Sometimes it could threaten your academic career and it is very difficult to come out of that psychological trauma. When she brought out misconduct situation that became harder to handle, she had to take the support of law enforcement agents. Still those days remained as a nightmare. Side by side obstacles and developing herself continued in the name different technical training of Biochemistry Instrument like Dimension –RxL Max, Abbot (AxSym) Analyzer, Stratus CS Dade Behring, Abbott Architect, Immulite, Beckman Coulter -CX9 Molecular biology Instruments like,RT PCR,Biorad HPLC base HBAC analyzer & GENE EXPERT and several quality assurance training including ISO 15189. That was her only goal to make her sound in science and technology, so that her steps will be strong enough not to ripple in the storm of social stigma. In Maldives her journey started in 2014 as an expatriate as well as a woman. Here her clear understanding was that people will accept you if they feel that you are qualified and important for them. She submitted her CV to different private and Gov. Hospital. Finally at then CEO of Igmh Brigadier Farath Saheer and Dr. Milza interviewed me and appointed with condition at Biochemistry lab for one month again started to prove herself. As a Consultant Biochemist, Dr. Zeba's work is commended as meticulous and well-organized, with an admirable ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising the quality of work. Among other things, her work in IGMH's laboratory involved resolving problems through data evaluation and examination before selecting corrective steps, completing reports of findings and after 15 days they replied positively, created a post and appointed me as consultant in Biochemistry. Since April 2019 she has been working as assistant professor at School of medicine Maldives National University. Dr. Zeba is a careful and creative thinker with an eye for details and a devotion to logic, which serve her both in the field of medical sciences and outside it. Dr. Zeba's penetrating mind allows her not only to grasp the basics of our curriculum, but also to formulate highly original and persuasive arguments. She is important part of SM research team. To break the confounding bias of conventional teaching to contemporary teaching learning method and student center method she stress her knowledge and technical skill and for that she went through series of workshop and training, some of them are as follows: Training on Designing problem Based Learning Packages Curriculum Overview and special study module implementation and research skills Quality assurance and accreditation of the medical Programme Workshop on medical education training for the teacher organized by World Health Organize (WHO) And center for medical education Bangladesh and much more Still she continue to develop herself as she believed on becoming scholar from personal advancement and also her own teaching . Dr. Zeba is to be commended for her professionalism, concern for her students, and quality of instruction. She is working from the very first batch of school of medicine. I find her uniquely resourceful and adaptive to the methods of teaching. Research work led her to 16 national and international scientific papers. She was awarded The Maldives National University (MNU) Research Grants 1.Association between Iron Status and Thyroid Function, 2019 to 2021 as co-investigator. 2.MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism and its association with folate, homocysteine, infertility, and risk of coronary heart disease pre-folic acid fortification era in female staff attending MNU, as principal investigator. Dr. Zeba has consistently made a substantial contribution to improving staff development and laboratory productivity. Working as a key focal point Dr. Zeba was instrumental in introducing new parameters to the laboratory through the Total Laboratory Automation project. As the most recent engagement with Maldivian Red Crescent, Dr. Zeba un Naher supported information dissemination and contact tracing during the lockdown phase of Covid 19 operations. Her commitment to the operation was remarkable and we are grateful for the service she offered including the translation service as part of the Covid 19 information dissemination operation. In addition to her contributions as a valuable member of the Migrant Advisory Committee, Dr. Zeba un Naher has also provided her technical expertise to the development of MRC’s strategic Plan 2019-2030. As a result of her active engagement, MRC Strategic Plan 2019-2030 was finalized and adopted at the 10th MRC General Assembly in 2019 with migrant workers identified as a key target group. She is constantly working to strengthen her sense of self-worth, her ability to make and exercise choices, her access to opportunities and resources, her right to have power over her own lives, both inside and outside the home. From her life Dr. Zeba knows empathy is necessary, more than equality, equity is important and above all one should have the determination and inner strength to fight against any type of obstacles. her capacity to shape social change in order to establish a more just social and economic order on a national and international scale sometimes through teaching the youth, sometimes through contribution towards the society by giving time in various humanitarian work. What She discovered is that by taking small steps toward a very distant goal, one can start to advance more quickly, in that way opportunities outlook unfolds.

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Press Release

14 June 2023

From Paper to Practice - Reviewing Gender-Based Violence Legislations in the Maldives

On May 30th 2023, UNFPA Maldives convened a workshop to disseminate the findings of this analysis, spearheaded by Ms. Chantelle McCabe, an international human rights lawyer and gender expert to bring about this crucial dialogue among key stakeholders. Representatives from across sectors, including Uza Aisha Shujune Muhammad, Dr. Azmiralda Zahir from the Supreme Court, Hon. Uz. Hussein Shameem from the Prosecutor General’s Office, representatives from the United Nations and the Minister of Gender, Family Support and Services, Hon. Aishath Mohamed Didi amongst other esteemed participants, who sparked the conversation, underscoring the necessity of aligning written laws with their actual execution. “We’re taking the cases up to courts, but other things within the law, for example services for the victims of violence, require more support,” said the Minister. There was a shared sentiment that the spirit of law isn't just about the prosecution, but also about providing support to the victims, ensuring they are not jeopardized when giving evidence, and empowering them through a system that truly serves their interests. The Prosecutor General shed light on the potential opportunities arising from the Supreme Court’s call for a review of all laws. However, he also emphasized the conflicts within the penal code sections that could be counterproductive to a harmonized legal framework. In his words, “Some of the issues we mentioned among a few of these sections; none of them were used due to a conflict, which is something that needs to be resolved”. One of the key themes that emerged was the need for transparency, coherence and consistency in the interpretation and application of laws. With numerous references to provisions that seem contradictory or are interpreted differently across sectors, the need for aligning laws and updating the provisions to reflect the current realities became a pressing concern. In this context, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Maldives, Catherine Haswell proposed a broader consultation involving diverse stakeholders and effective methodologies, borrowed from other examples from countries, to bring some coherence to the provisions while minimizing risk for women and children. Additionally, a potent insight came from the Minister, who noted that “One of the weaknesses of our system is that a lot of things are people centered; depending on who is in a particular position of power during a particular time in order for things to happen”. Echoing this sentiment, Head of Office of UNFPA Maldives, Shadiya Ibrahim pointed out that “The wrong people are centered, it should be the survivors who are at the center”. This drove home the point that while laws are written down, their effective implementation should not depend on individual whims, but on a systematic, comprehensive and inclusive approach. The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, looking towards future collaborations to address the issues raised, with a shared commitment to move from merely discussing laws to pushing the agenda for their effective implementation. Moving forward, the insights garnered from this workshop will serve as stepping stones towards crafting an action plan that bridges the gap between legislation and its application. It’s time to turn our discussions into actions, our laws into lived realities, and our hopes into tangible outcomes. Reference: https://maldives.unfpa.org/en/gbvlawreview

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Press Release

05 June 2023

Training Workshop to Enhance the Use of Administrative Data for Official Statistics Production

Under the auspices of the Collaborative on Administrative Data, the UNSD, with funding support from the UN DESA Development Account 13, has developed a training program that targets both administrative data holders and official statisticians. The workshop aims to foster a common understanding of the value of data sharing and collaboration between these stakeholders, paving the way for improved official statistics and informed decision-making. The training workshop, titled "Increasing the Use of Administrative Data Sources for Official Statistics Production," covered a range of essential topics, including: Understanding the concept and benefits of administrative data. Mapping and assessing the usability of administrative data sources. Quality management of administrative data. Data sharing, interoperability, and data linking. Data confidentiality and security Formalization of data sharing through legal frameworks and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). Follow-up and implementation strategies. The objectives of the workshop are to increase capacity and foster a joint understanding among participants which include the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) and various line ministries responsible for administrative data sources, regarding the optimal use of administrative data sources for official statistics production. It is envisaged that with this training the participants will gain a better understanding of the subject matter and possess a toolkit to facilitate effective collaboration between administrative data holders and official statisticians. In the context of the Maldives, the workshop focused on migration and labor statistics, addressing key areas that require accurate and detailed data. Through interactive sessions and case studies, participants gained practical insights into harnessing administrative data to strengthen statistical outputs in the country including those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UN in Maldives hopes that this initiative will address the key challenges of data gaps and capacity for analysis that are being identified in the 2024 Voluntary National Review of the SDGs and bring to the forefront the initiatives needed by the Maldives to reinvigorate the country’s commitment to enhance the monitoring of the SDGs in the lead up to the SDG Summit. For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Ms. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen Interregional Advisor on Statistical Training and Capacity Building Development Data and Outreach Branch United Nations Statistics Division Email: vibeke.nielsen@un.org Aminath Mushfiqa Ibrahim Director, HR, Maldives Bureau of Statistics Email: mushfiqa.ibrahim@stats.gov.mv Shaha Shakeeb Associate Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring / Reporting UN Maldives Resident Coordinators Office Email: shaha.shakeeb@un.org

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Press Release

25 May 2023

High-level Session on Official Statistics - How can we collaborate to provide more relevant data and statistics for informed decision making?

The event, held at Meerumaa Events in Moonimaa Maalam, featured esteemed speakers and experts in the field of official statistics, including Government Ministers many of whom are members of the Ministerial Committee on Official Statistics. Also participating were the Governor of the MMA, the Commissioner General of Taxation, the United Nations, the Maldives Bureau of Statistics (MBS) and other agencies of the National Statistical System. Members of the Statistical Council also engaged during the event. The session commenced with an opening address by Honorable Mohamed Aslam, Minister of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure, who emphasized the importance of data-driven decision making in shaping effective policies and strategies. Ms. Catherine Haswell, the UN Resident Coordinator, delivered her remarks highlighting the significance of official statistics and their role in promoting sustainable development and evidence-based decision making to keep on track with achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Maldives. Ms. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen, Inter-Regional Adviser on Statistical Training and Capacity Building at the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), presented on the topic of responding to user needs and achieving high-quality and up-to-date data sources. Her insights shed light on the strategies and mechanisms necessary for meeting user requirements effectively, with collaboration being of high importance in the context. The session also featured a presentation by Ms. Aishath Hassan, Chief Statistician, who provided an overview of the statistical system in Maldives. She discussed the current utilization of administrative data and highlighted the key challenges faced by the government in collaborating and sharing data to produce accurate and timely statistics. Ms. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen further elaborated on the use of administrative data for official statistics, with a specific focus on employment and migration statistics. Her presentation explored the potential of administrative data sources in enriching the understanding of these critical aspects and more generally. An interactive discussion took place, facilitated by Ms. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen, focusing on employment and migration data across the Maldives Statistical System (MSS). Participants shared existing challenges in Maldives with reference to making data readily available and usable for all and creating an open and trusting environment for agencies to share their data. UN Maldives with the support from the Government of Maldives is committed to supporting initiatives that promote collaboration and the use of data for informed decision making. Events like the High-Level Session on Official Statistics contribute to the advancement of data-driven governance and policy formulation. Statistics form an essential part of the Government of Maldives’ reporting its Voluntary National Review (VNR) on progress on SDGs to the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2023. For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Ms. Aminath Mushfiqa Ibrahim Director, HR Maldives Bureau of Statistics Email: mushfiqa.ibrahim@stats.gov.mv Ms. Shaha Shakeeb Associate Development Coordination Officer, Data Management and Results Monitoring / Reporting UN Maldives Resident Coordinators Office Email: shaha.shakeeb@un.org Ms. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen Interregional Advisor on Statistical Training and Capacity Building Development Data and Outreach Branch United Nations Statistics Division Email: vibeke.nielsen@un.org

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Press Release

14 May 2023

National consultation to strengthen social protection in the Maldives

Governments in Asia and the Pacific have increasingly recognized social protection as a key policy instrument to build a more productive, protected and healthy population in Asia and the Pacific. In 2020, ESCAP member States endorsed the regional Action Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Social Protection, which serves as a shared vision, strategy and platform for promoting partnership and peer learning as well as identifying needs for capacity development. The Action Plan sets out 12 national actions that underpin the achievement of more inclusive and comprehensive social protection systems, ranging from upholding the right to social protection in legislative and regulatory frameworks, to ensuring a more effective design, coordination and delivery of social protection schemes. To support member States in the implementation of this first ever regional Action Plan, ESCAP has been undertaking stocktaking initiatives on the readiness to implement the Action Plan and achieve more inclusive and comprehensive social protection systems in Cambodia, Georgia, Maldives, Mongolia, the Philippines and Turkey. The Maldives has demonstrated strong commitment to social protection and achieved universal old age pensions through both contributory and non-contributory schemes, as well as a universal disability allowance and universal health insurance. The stocktaking consists of a brief report that showcases the Maldives’ policies for promoting social protection and its overall readiness to implement the national actions of the Action Plan. A second part of the stocktaking exercise involves a national consultation with selected participants from the Ministries to discuss and validate the findings of the draft report, notably its recommendations for achieving the objectives of the Action Plan. The consultation also served as a forum to reflect how a more holistic and strategic social protection system could be an economic investment in future labour markets, the economy and prosperity of the country. Launching the National Consultation, the Vice President of Maldives Faisal Naseem highlighted ongoing progress made on social protection, such as the launch of the registry portal for persons with disabilities by the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), the implementation of non-contributory schemes for persons in vulnerable situations, as well as pension plan, stressing the need to work collectively with all stakeholders and communities to better the lives of the people of the Maldives. Aishath Mohammed Didi, Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services, elaborated on the recently developed National Framework on Social Protection and called on the need for decentralized responses as well as importance to strengthen a more unified and holistic social protection system and welcomed the consultation and Action Plan as a way forward in this. Reflecting on the different pathways to more inclusive and comprehensive social protection systems across countries in the region, Srinivas Tata, Director, Social Development Division, ESCAP outlined the key elements within the Action Plan that underpin strong social protection systems. Emphasizing the need for a lifecycle approach, Catherine Haswell, UN Resident Coordinator for Maldives, indicated it was an opportune moment to gather and review the various components of Maldives’ social protection system, to leverage what has worked and make adjustments to transform the system into one which meets the future needs of the Maldives. As the country moves forward to implement the National Framework on Social Protection, the Consultation was a rare opportunity to engage stakeholders from across different line Ministries and stakeholders in the Maldives to chart actions towards a future where all Maldivians are protected.
For more information: Shaha Shakeeb, Associate Development Coordination Officer, UN Maldives RCO (shaha.shakeeb@un.org) Kavita Sukanandan, Public Information Officer, Communications and Knowledge Management Section, ESCAP (escap-scas@un.org)

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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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