The Republic of Maldives has ratified most of the core human rights conventions, including the ICCPR and ICESCR. The Government has also extended a standing invitation to all special procedures of the Human Rights Council. The Government has embarked on an extensive programme of political reform, including significant revisions to the criminal justice system and human rights-related laws. Recently improved legislation has affirmed the independence of the national Human Rights Commission. The Human Rights Adviser’s primary focus will be to strengthen national capacities and institutions for the protection and promotion of human rights.
The Adviser will advise the Government and national institutions on drafting legislation that complies with international human rights norms and standards, and on how to strengthen the capacity of the judiciary to implement legal reform in compliance with international human rights law. The Adviser will also contribute to ongoing activities under the UNDP joint project to support the national Human Rights Commission. In addition, the Human Rights Adviser will help build the capacity of the UN Country Team and its partners to integrate a human rights-based approach into its programmes and activities; will support the country’s emerging human rights NGOs; and will assist the national Human Rights Commission, civil society and the UN Country Team in treaty body reporting and follow-up and in working with the special procedures.