Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has called on the president, independent institutions and all the political parties to come together and discuss issues around human rights in the Maldives and express their ideas.
President of HRCM Ahmed Saleem said the commission had sent letters to President Mohamed Nasheed, Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Shahid, Attorney General Husnu Suood and to representatives of all the political parties.
”We want to hear the voice of political parties and government institutions,” he said.
He said the commission intended to draft a report on human rights in the country and visit the atolls after meeting with government institutions and political parties.
”We advise everyone in connection with human rights including the media to cooperate with us,” he said.
Press Secretary of the President Mohamed Zuhair said the president had not decided whether he would attend, but that he would undoubtedly support the assembly.
Secretary General of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) Abdulla Mausoom said the party would decide to what to do after discussing it.
He said he do not believe a survey of human rights was necessary, “as for instance is there any use to a survey to find out whether people like to eat?”
He claimed the government had abused the rights of freedom of opinion by threatening private media.
Recently inducted Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Alhan Fahmy said the party would support the gathering, noting that while human rights in the Maldives was progressing day by day, ” there are things to be corrected.”
Writing reports, attending workshops and seminar and conferences abroad, paying visits, holding workshops in the country.
And then bombarding the executive while the legislature and judiciary are conveniently left out.
What a fine Human Rights Commission!
A desperate media stunt by HRC to gloss over it's diminishing public trust and confidence and more obviously it's ineffectiveness in materializing what it's name symbolizes of.If there is there an international event ahead ,then there's no better time..... :-D.HRC always worries about the rights of street thugs and rewards them with moral support and emboldens their vicious activities ,rather than protecting the mainstream public from their claws.
To put it mildly, the Human Rights Commission sucks.
The leadership of the HRCM has failed miserably, such that the perception of the commission in public is of an institution that is apathetic, passive and known to protect only the rights of the incarcerated.
Why isn't the commission working more proactively to bring issues such as labour rights, media freedom, housing rights, drug rehabilitation to prominence? Surely the HRCM is empowered by law to pressure the executive, parliament and judiciary to advance their programs. HRCM has failed to bring about the policy change that is required by its mandate.
Having said that, I know that some staff at HRCM slave and go out of their way to do a proper job and more. Kudos to those staff who have to deal with the likes of Saleem, Zahid, and the other three invisible members of the commission.
Human Rights! A shameful mockery!
Human Rights Commission of Maldives starting campaign for re-election perhaps!
How many people have been missing in custody?
How many people been killed whilst in custody? Nothing done! And now big deal!
@ Jaisham - who told you the staff slave and go out of their way to do their proper job? I see you have been very badly informed. the truth is some staff work very hard while the others are no more than just pretending to do their work. Mr. Saleem is a fair and easy to work with. Stop blaming just the members. The Directors and some so called senior staff are even worse.