An Introduction

The Human Rights Commission's Act (Law No: 6/2006) provided for the establishment of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), as an independent legal entity having a common seal and the capacity to sue and be sued and enter into transactions in its own name.

The principle objectives of the Commission are (a) to protect, preserve and promote human rights in the Maldives in accordance with Islamic Shari'ah and the Constitution of the Maldives; (b) to protect, preserve and promote human rights in the Maldives in accordance with regional and international treaties that are binding on the Maldives; and, (c) to assist and encourage non-governmental organizations in creating awareness and in promoting human rights.

The Commission consists of five members. On Monday, 27th November, 2006, the President appointed new members to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives. The members appointed were Mr. Ahmed Saleem, Mr. Mohamed Zahid, Ms Maryam Azra Ahmed, Mr. Ahmed Abdul Kareem and Ms Majida Majdy. Mr. Ahmed Saleem was appointed as the President and Mr. Mohamed Zahid as Vice President of the Commission. The appointment of the members, the President and the Vice President were undertaken after consultation with the People’s Majlis as stipulated in the Human Rights Commission Act.

The Commission has been created in accordance with the requirements of the Paris Principles of 1991, which were subsequently endorsed by the UN Commission on Human Rights and the UN General Assembly (Resolution 48/134 of 20 December 1993). These Principles have now become the foundation and reference point for the establishment and operation of national human rights commissions.