President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has stated that human rights are not just about international instruments or pieces of law, and that human rights are also about belief that needs to be carefully cultivated and nurtured. The President made this statement while speaking at the official function held this evening to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day.
President Yameen conveyed his personal well wishes, as well as those of the Government, to the members and staff of the Human Rights Commission, on the occasion of this year’s International Human Rights Day, and the 12th anniversary of the establishment of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives. He stated that the Government values and recognizes the important work being done by the Human Rights Commission, and would continue to support the Commission’s efforts to champion human rights in the country.
President Yameen stated that his Government is committed to upholding the rights and responsibilities enshrined in the 7 UN human rights conventions and treaties to which the Maldives is a party. He highlighted that the Maldives has ratified 9 ILO conventions, and is a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
President Yameen emphasized in his speech that the Maldives is the smallest country to get re-elected to the Human Rights Council, for a second term. He noted that this signifies that other states in the international community value the contributions that the Maldives continues to make towards the protection of human rights.
However, the President noted that human rights cannot only be enforced through protocols or treaties, but by cultivating a culture of respecting human rights within the society. In this regard, President Yameen stressed the importance of cultural relativism with regard to human rights, by asserting that certain “rights” championed by the West are not applicable in other cultures. For example, the Maldives has been continuously critiqued by certain Western states and international organisations for refusing to legalise same-sex marriage or to allow freedom of religion. President Yameen pointed out that allowing these freedoms would be to go against the Maldivian Constitution and the beliefs and values of the overwhelming majority of the Maldivian people.
In his speech, President Yameen asserted that ‘human rights’ have often been used by certain nations as weapon to wield their power over smaller nations. He argued that this was a double standard, as these states apply a certain level of human rights for their citizens, and a lower one for citizens of other nations. He noted that the human rights violations being carried out against the Palestinian people by the State of Israel are key examples of this, and that the silence of these Western nations has been deafening while hundreds of innocent Palestinian civilians are being slaughtered every day by Israeli forces, and while their properties are being destroyed. He voiced that the Maldives would always strive to champion the plights of these marginalized group within the international arena.
The President stated that, as every individual, community, and state, is unique, conflict is inevitable. He therefore underscored that members of the Human Rights Commission have an important role to play, by assuming the role of mediators.
President Yameen further stated that his Government was committed to protecting the rights of marginalized groups within the society, such as the rights of those with special needs, by making them productive members of the society, and empowering them to live independent lives.
President Yameen emphasized that education is key to this. He noted that there are already 34 schools around the country that have special education classes. He stated that it is the Government’s aim to have at least one special education teacher in every school in the Maldives by 2016.
President Yameen also stated that his Government is dedicated to protecting the rights of women in the Maldives. He stated that his Government has a zero tolerance policy towards domestic violence and the exploitation of women, and would continue to empower women and to put in place the necessary safety nets that would allow women to be self-sufficient. He highlighted that the Government aims to have at least 40% of women represented on every public board, and that this target has almost been achieved.
At the function held this evening, President Yameen announced that, from 1 January 2016, special concessions would be put in place for expectant working mothers, which would allow them to work from home.
Concluding his speech, President Yameen asserted that no country has a perfect record on human rights and governance, and that the Maldives is no different. He vowed that the Government would continue to work on improving, on cultivating values, on building resilience, to the many challenges we face every day.
