Third Committee

Agenda Item 73(b): Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Intervention by the Republic of Maldives to the Report by the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro

Statement by:

Ms. Farzana Zahir, Joint Secretary

United Nations, New York, 23 October 2015

Thank you Distinguished Chairperson,

The Maldives would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for her comprehensive report and appreciate the important work carried out by her on this very important issue.

Maldives delegation welcomes the report of the Special Rapporteur on the due diligence obligations of States to prevent trafficking and ensuring the rights of the trafficked persons.

This is an area of special importance and great challenge for the Maldives as we host a large number of migrant workers. Government of Maldives has taken significant steps to protect the rights of migrant worker's. Among them include the ratification of the eight ILO core conventions, as well as the annexation of national legislation, the Anti-Trafficking Act in 2013. The Government has also endorsed the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons for 2015-2019 which sets comprehensive and effective strategies to combat human trafficking in the Maldives. . With the approval of the Parliament, the Maldives is also at the final stages of completing its formalities to accede to the Optional Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children.

The Maldives also recognise the importance of due diligence to take a comprehensive, integrated and holistic approach to ensuring the human rights of trafficked persons and persons at risk of being trafficked. In this regard, a number of measures are being undertaken nationally with multi stakeholder participation to address any shortcomings in this area. We are also working closely with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in strengthening migration management including combating human trafficking issues.

My question to the Special Rapporteur is, how successful are States in applying human rights based approach to trafficking victims and what are your views on the level in which specific needs are addressed, especially that of women and children.

Third Committee

Agenda Item 73(b): Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Intervention by the Republic of Maldives to the Report by the Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Mr. Philip Alston

United Nations, New York, 22 October 2015

Thank you Distinguished Chairperson,

The Maldives would like to thank the Special Rapporteur for the comprehensive analysis that has been presented on the current policies and operations of the World Bank. We appreciate the recommendations presented, in terms of how the Bank needs consistency and a clear focus in its application of human rights. We also welcome, recommendations set forth that the Bank needs to assist Member States in complying with their international human rights obligations.

Mr. Chair,

The Maldives adopts a people centred approach to development, that is fully supported by a rights based agenda. The Constitution of the Maldives guarantees, without any discrimination, the right to basic public services; such as education, healthcare, water, sanitation, communication, electricity, and a healthy, ecologically balanced environment. However hard it might be, to deliver on these promises to a population of close to 400,000 spread across about 200 island over 90,000 square kilometres, the Government is committed to succeed in this endeavour.

Despite these developmental challenges, the vulnerability of Maldives to the impacts of climate change cannot be stressed enough. As we increasingly witness, hard earned developmental achievements can be wiped away within minutes in island nations. This is why the Maldives have been continuously advocating for the link between human rights and climate change. Climate Change threatens the very existence of our nation and deprives us of our rights. For this reason, we say that reality should be reflected in the way we finance and invest in SIDS. Lack of access to concessionary financing in many cases limit governments in meeting their human rights obligations.

My question to the Special Rapporteur is, what do you see as the biggest challenge for the Bank, to take a new direction in its policy and how best can the Bank cater to Small Island States taking into account inherent vulnerabilities.