UK removes Maldives from their Human Rights Priority List

People registering at vaccination stations | Photo: Mihaaru

Malé, Maldives – Maldives has been removed from the United Kingdom’s Human Rights Priority List.

The Maldivian High Commission in the United Kingdom tweeted that Maldives has been taken off the “Human Rights Priority Countries List” on the Human Rights and Democracy Report by the FCDO. They added that this is a strong testament for the strides the Government of Maldives has taken on the Human Rights front.

Following this, Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid tweeted saying that it is a “clear” and “resounding” recognition by the international community, of the president’s focus on promoting and protecting human rights ans that he’s delighted by the decision.

President Solih has on countless occasions reiterated commitment to uphold and promote human rights without discrimination, in the recovery and resilience efforts against the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic.

On 6 July 2020, the UK Government established the Global Human Rights (‘Magnitsky’) sanctions regime, as a powerful tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses. It projects the UK as a force for good, complementing and enhancing the country’s existing human rights activities around the world. To this end, the new Department: the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office was established and 30 countries including Maldives were listed on the “Human Rights Priority Countries List”. As of 9 July 2021, Maldives is removed from the list.