The APF recently met with leaders of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives as part of its Leadership Solidarity Outreach program.

The APF has met with leaders of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) as part of its Leadership Solidarity Outreach program.

During the session, held virtually on 14 March, discussions focused on the role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) as National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs).

The HRCM has played the role of NPM since 2007, following the Maldives’ ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture, an international treaty aimed at preventing torture and ill-treatment against people held in detention.

In its role as NPM, the Maldives Commission regularly carries out visits to prisons, detention centres and rehabilitation centres, and makes recommendations to address any issues.

Commissioner Moomina Waheed and Vice President Dr Ahmed Adham Abdulla expressed interest in understanding how other NHRIs were operating as NPMs, in particular NHRIs that are able to provide compensation to complainants.

During the meeting, the HRCM also requested a High-Level Dialogue with the APF.

The Leadership Solidarity Outreach program aims to maintain institutional and personal relationships while travel between countries is either not possible or highly restrictive.

To date, leadership outreach calls have been held with the NHRIs of Bahrain, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea and Sri Lanka, which has led to further assistance from the APF, or collaborative initiatives.

If you are interested in scheduling a call with the APF secretariat, please contact Pip Dargan, Principal Adviser, Capacity Assessment and International Engagement at pipdargan@asiapacificforum.net (mailto:pipdargan@asiapacificforum.net)

Date: 25 March 2022