A delegation from the Maldives is actively participating in the 50th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which commenced on 4 November 2025 at the Palais des Nations. The high-level session will run until 14 November, offering all participating states a platform to present and evaluate their human rights records. The Maldives is scheduled for its national review on 5 November, as part of the ongoing Fourth Cycle of the UPR, which spans from 2022 to 2027.
Representing the Maldives at this international platform is a distinguished team led by Dr. Salma Rasheed, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The delegation is engaged in presenting the country’s progress in upholding human rights obligations and reaffirming its dedication to advancing national priorities through cooperation with global human rights mechanisms. The review provides an opportunity for the Maldives to highlight concrete steps it has taken in areas such as inclusive governance, gender equality, social protection, and access to justice.
The UPR process is a peer-driven mechanism that allows all 193 UN member states to review one another’s human rights records in a spirit of constructive dialogue and mutual learning. This cycle, the Working Group will examine the situations of fourteen countries including Andorra, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Honduras, Jamaica, Libya, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, the Marshall Islands, Panama, the United States of America, and the Maldives.
In addition to presenting its own review, the Maldives is playing an active role in the peer review process. The country has been selected to serve on the “Troika”, a trio of states that facilitate and report on UPR sessions—for the review of Jamaica. This appointment reflects the Maldives’ growing role in international human rights discourse and its standing as a respected voice within the Human Rights Council.
Further emphasizing the nation’s leadership, Dr. Salma Rasheed is also serving as the Vice President of the Human Rights Council, representing the Asia-Pacific Group. In this capacity, she is presiding over meetings during the session, guiding the deliberations that help shape the global human rights agenda.
The Maldives’ active engagement at the UPR not only demonstrates its commitment to democratic values, accountability, and inclusivity but also reflects its broader aspirations of contributing meaningfully to the international community. The participation also underscores the government’s continued efforts to align with international human rights norms while strengthening its national frameworks for protection and reform.
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