Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has said the victory of the Maldives in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) election has shown the world recognises the country's efforts in the international arena.
The Maldives won its seat on the UNHRC in a secret ballot held at the UNGA. The election saw 17 countries competing for 14 vacant seats. The membership for the UNHRC is based on equitable geographical distribution, and seats are allotted among regional groups. The Maldives competed in the Group of Asia-Pacific States, for one of the four vacant seats. The Maldives won the seat with 154 votes, out of a total of 189 votes cast. Along with the Maldives, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan also won seats for the Group of Asia-Pacific States. The new members will start their terms on January 1, 2023.
In an exclusive interview with PSM News, Minister Shahid said the country's foreign policy has been formulated by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and top priority is given to protecting human rights. He said the government's strong policies have been accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He said the days when the country was on the edge of the international arena have passed, adding the Maldives has now earned the trust of the entire world.
Furthermore, Minister Shahid said his top priority would be to work together with the entire world to overcome the negative impacts of the environment on small countries. He said that protection from climate change is one of the greatest human rights and he will advocate for it during the UNHRC term.