HRCM Submission to the Universal Periodic Review
of the Maldives, April –May 2015 (22nd session)
September 2014
Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM)
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) was first established under Presidential Decree on
December 10, 2003. On August 18, 2005, the Human Rights Commission Act was ratified, thereby making the
HRCM the first independent and autonomous statutory body in the Maldives. The amendments brought to the
Human Rights Commission Act in August 2006 broadened the mandate and powers of the HRCM, making it
compliant with the Paris Principles. With the ratification of the Constitution in August 2008, the HRCM was made
an independent and autonomous constitutional body.
The HRCM currently holds ‘B’ status with the International Co‐ordination Committee of National Human Rights
Institutions (ICC) and is an Associate Member of the Asia‐Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions
(APF).
In December 2007, the HRCM was designated by a Presidential Decree as the National Preventive Mechanism
(NPM) under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment and Punishment (OPCAT).As prescribed under the OPCAT, the HRCM was designated as the NPM in
legislation with the ratification of the Anti‐torture Act in December 2013.
The report focuses on prominent human rights issues faced, along with the implementation status of the
recommendations from the 1st UPR review. Accordingly report outlines on 18 thematic areas which comprises of
civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. Each thematic area is concluded by
recommendations. Report was compiled based on information received from the relevant stakeholders including
government authorities, institutions, civil society in addition to existing in‐house monitoring and data. In addition,
HRCM also conducted a series of meetings in the past three months to facilitate constructive dialogue on the
implementation of the recommendations. HRCM is represented in the steering committee established by the
government during the first UPR review. Regrettably, this committee failed to fulfil its intended obligation.
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Human Rights Commission of the Maldives – UPR submission 2014