UNGA Statements

UNGA62 (2007)

Statement on items 9 “Report Of The Security Council’ and 122 “Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters” by Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Vice-Chairman of the Maldives Delegation

Statement by Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Vice-Chairman of the Maldives Delegation, at the Joint Debate of the General Assembly on items 9 “Report Of The Security Council’ and 122 “Question of Equitable Representation on and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council and Related Matters”, 13 November 2007

 

Mr. President,

 

At the outset, my delegation would like to join the previous speakers in expressing our  appreciation to the President of the Security Council Ambassador R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa, Permanent Representative of Indonesia, for his presentation of the annual report of the Council, covering the period from 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2007. We would also like to thank the President of the 61st session of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, for the exemplary leadership she demonstrated as the Chairperson of the Open-ended Working Group on the Reform of the Security Council, during the previous session.  Our deep gratitude also goes to the tedious work undertaken by the Facilitators appointed by her to assist the process.

 

Mr. President,

 

Maldives remain convinced that the United Nations is the only Organization that is capable of creating a more peaceful and prosperous world for humanity. The principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations are today as relevant and valid as they were formulated in 1946. But the challenges that confront the Organization in this globalized world are surely not the same as when it was created six decades ago. Reforming and restructuring the Organization to effectively address these challenges therefore, remains a major hurdle to cross. While we acknowledge with satisfaction the numerous reforms that had already been implemented over the past few years, it is disappointing to note that the proposed reforms of the Security Council, the principle organ entrusted with the primary task of maintaining international peace and security, still continues to elude us without any tangible results.

 

My delegation sincerely believes that reforming the Security Council remains central and should become part and parcel of the entire United Nations reform process if the United Nations were to remain a credible and effective Organization. The Council must be reformed to reflect the geopolitical realities of the modern world.  While we recognize the difficulties we face, we sincerely believe that the reforms should be comprehensive and should include the expansion of its membership, both non-permanent and permanent categories,   the issue of veto and its decision making process. Similarly, the issues relating to the working methods and its transparency and the relation between the Council and the General Assembly are equally important areas that need to be addressed in a comprehensive manner.

 

Mr. President,

 

Maldives is convinced that any expansion of the Security Council should reflect the growth of United Nations membership and its present cultural diversity.  We would like to see that the process result in reform which would make the Security Council more representative, democratic and transparent. We share the view that reforms of the Council should become an integral part of the United Nations reform process and that maintaining the status quo is not acceptable.  We also value the importance of the need to enhance Member States’ access to the Council, both in terms of increasing their chances to serve as members and, while not members, to increase their involvement in the Council’s work. We also welcome the Working Group’s recommendation that any enlargement should address the under-representation of developing countries as well as small States.

 

Mr. President,

 

Security priorities may vary from state to state. For the Maldives, and many other small low-lying island states in the world, peace and security is not only derived from the absence of war or conflicts. The threats posed by global climate change and related consequences have now become a threat that is linked directly to the sheer survival of some of these small states. In our view the issue of climate change is intrinsically an issue of international peace and security that requires the urgent and paramount attention of all the organs of the Organization including the Security Council. In this regard my delegation appreciates the historic step taken by the Security Council in convening on 17 April 2007 the first ever debate exploring the potential impacts of climate change on international peace and security.  Maldives consider this as an important step in the right direction and we believe that close cooperation and coordination among all principal organs is indispensable in order to enable the Organization to remain relevant and capable of meeting such new and emerging threats and challenges.

 

Mr. President,

 

Before I conclude, allow me to reiterate our firm belief that the lack of common ground on some of the major aspects of the Council reforms should not be used as an excuse for no action. Our decision to support the G-4 proposals is based primarily on our conviction that no action would be counter productive to the Organization. We sincerely believe that we should proceed with the enlargement of the membership, both in the permanent and non-permanent categories, and include in this enlargement, countries such as Japan, India and other member states, that have proved their commitment and capacity to serve as permanent members, and would represent the wider membership of the present day United Nations. After all, the aim of the reform process is the enhancement of the credibility, legitimacy, and the universal character of the Organization.

 

As a responsible member of the international community, I assure you Mr. President, that the Maldives will continue to play its role to uphold and promote the objectives of the United Nations.

 

I thank you.

Statement on Agenda Item 70; “Promotion and protection of Human Rights, by Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Vice-Chairman of the Maldives Delegation

Statement by Mr. Ahmed Sareer, Vice-Chairman of the Maldives Delegation, at UNGA Third Committee on Agenda Item 70; “Promotion and protection of Human Rights: (b) Human Rights Questions, including alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms, (c) Human rights situation and reports of special rapporteurs and representatives and (e) Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities”, 30 October 2007.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

Let me join the previous speakers in congratulating you and the members of the Bureau on your election to steer the work of the Committee.  My delegation is fully confident that under your able leadership the work of the Committee will come to a successful conclusion.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

The Government of Maldives welcomes constructive suggestions and recommendations given by Special Rapporteur for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Dr. Leandro Despouy pursuant to his visit to the Maldives in February 2007. The visit and recommendations come at a time when Maldives is taking significant strides towards strengthening its legal and judicial sector as part of the Government’s Reform Agenda.  The Reform Agenda is bringing in wide-ranging change to the constitutional, democratic, legal and human rights framework of the country. The establishment of an efficient, independent and fair judicial system on par with international norms and standards is a vital part of the Reform Agenda. These include specific areas such as criminal procedure, police powers, use of evidence in court and juvenile justice. The Government would like to note that significant steps taken towards reform of the judiciary include the drafting and submission to parliament of the Penal Code, a Sentencing Bill, a Criminal Procedure Code and a Police Bill.  The draft bills take into consideration the spirit and provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to which Maldives acceded to last year. Further, a Judicial Service Commission has been established by Executive Decree. The Government is also undertaking initiatives for capacity building and training of judges and lawyers. Maldives has also recently appointed the first ever women judges in the country. Removing the gender bar in the appointment of judges to the bench was one of the recommendations made by Dr. Despouy. The Maldives is committed to implementing the recommendations made by Dr. Despouy in order to strengthen and make independent the judiciary and legislature of the Maldives.

 

In this process the Government of Maldives wishes to highlight that it is committed to the international legal regime and is working with the international human rights mechanism including the UN Special Procedures.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

The Maldives has recently signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Although our obligations under the other major human rights instruments are closely synonymous with the Convention’s provisions, Government’s decision to sign the treaty has added a new dimension to human rights protection in the Maldives. The Government realizes that signing international treaties should be backed by effective implementation. Hence, the Government of Maldives is already in the process of finalizing a National Policy on Disability, the provisions of which reflect the obligations laid down by the Disabilities Convention.

 

Further, the Government of Maldives is also working with the National Human Rights Advisor who was deputed to the Maldives by the OHCHR on the Government’s request.

The Government of Maldives would like to reiterate its continued commitment to the reform process. Due consideration is being given to the recommendations and support offered by the Special Rapporteur for strengthening the independence of judges and lawyers in the Maldives.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

My Delegation appreciates the bold step taken by the United Nations Security Council for convening in April this year the first ever debate on climate change, based on the premise that global warming poses a threat to human security. Similarly, the Maldives is grateful to the UN Secretary-General for convening a high level segment on climate change at the beginning of the UNGA this year.  My Foreign Minister has also called on the Human Rights Council to convene at the earliest, a debate on human rights and climate change.

 

The Maldives believes that global warming also has clear human rights implications including with respect to the right to self determination, the right to take part in cultural life, the right to use and enjoy property, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to water, the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to development and even the right to life itself.

 

With these views in mind, my Delegation is looking at ways, as we approach the Bali meeting in December, to raise the issue of human dimension of the environmental degradation. To address these issues, the Maldives will be hosting next month, a Small Island States conference on “The Human Dimension of Climate Change”.

 

Mr. Chairman,

 

Before I conclude, may I reiterate my Delegation’s firm commitment to work closely with the UN bodies towards strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights in the Maldives.

 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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