(Bangkok, Geneva, 7 June 2017) – The Maldives faced unprecedented censure today at the United Nations Human Rights Council (Council), as a number of States called attention to the human rights situation in the country. Speaking jointly, over 30 States called on the Government to engage with the Council to improve the human rights situation [ Read more ]

05-06-2017 To: Member and Observer states of the UN Human Rights Council Excellencies, RE: Human rights situation in the Maldives Attacks against human rights defenders and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association have reached alarming levels in Maldives ahead of the Presidential elections, scheduled for 2018. We call on the UN Human Rights [ Read more ]

Your Excellency, The undersigned civil society organisations write to you to condemn in the strongest terms the murder of internationally recognised Maldivian blogger Yameen Rasheed. We call on the government to take all necessary measures to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are brought to justice and to end the cycle of impunity [ Read more ]

It is unfortunate that freedom of press has been deteriorating in Maldives. We fall under the “Not Free” category in the World Press Freedom Index. This matter certainly cannot be ignored because the result came with good reason. The abduction of Ahmed Rilwan, well-known journalist from Maldives Independent, over three years ago lead to a [ Read more ]

We call on the international community to assist in the investigation of the brutal murder of Yameen Rasheed, blogger and human rights defender. Yameen is not the first blogger to come under fatal attack and we fear that the local authorities need all the assistance available in this matter. We do not wish for a [ Read more ]

Islamabad, April 23, 2017: Bytes for All, Pakistan expresses deep shock and grief at the brutal murder of prominent Maldivian blogger and civil rights activist, Yameen Rasheed. We strongly condemn this act of cowardice and impunity, and urge the local and international human rights community to intervene so that justice can be served to Yameen [ Read more ]

(Bangkok, 24 April 2017) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is deeply shocked by the brutal murder of Yameen Rasheed, a prominent blogger and human rights defender from the Maldives. The Government and law enforcement authorities of the Maldives must conduct a swift, credible and independent investigation into this murder and [ Read more ]

Press Statement 16 October 2016, New Delhi A group of Human Rights organizations and activists from South Asia, expressing disappointment at the decision of the Maldives to leave the Commonwealth, says this could lead to greater authoritarianism in the island nation. We, the undersigned, regard the decision of the Maldives government to leave the Commonwealth [ Read more ]

33rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 8: Follow up to and implementation of Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action – General Debate Oral Statement Delivered by Ahmed Adam On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Monday, 26 September 2016   Mr. President, we note the two [ Read more ]

33rd Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council Item 5: General Debate Oral Statement Delivered by Rosanna Ocampo On behalf of the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) Friday, 23 September 2016 Mr. President, FORUM-ASIA welcomes the Secretary-General’s report on cooperation with the United Nations, its representatives and mechanisms in the field [ Read more ]