KATHMANDU, NEPAL (27 August 2024) – The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) welcomes the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s concluding observations on the Second Periodic Report of the Maldives that highlight the urgent need for effective measures to safeguard fundamental freedoms and human rights in the country.
Worrying Patterns of Violations
The Committee’s observations align with several concerns outlined in the shadow report FORUM-ASIA–alongside a Maldivian civil society group–submitted on 12 June 2024.
This includes the protection of victims’ rights, particularly in cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Families of victims and survivors–like that of forcibly disappeared journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdullah–continue to seek justice. Despite The Maldives ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in 2023, the state has failed to ensure accountability. This is evidenced by the lack of transparency surrounding the findings of the now-disbanded Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCom) and their refusal to make it public.
FORUM-ASIA shares the Committee’s concerns regarding the Maldives’ counter-terrorism and extremism framework, particularly the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Its vague and overly broad provisions undermine human rights protections and pose a significant risk of misuse against human rights defenders, civil society organizations, journalists and political opponents.
The arbitrary deregistration of the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN)—a member organization of FORUM-ASIA—in December 2019, without due process, is a stark example of the severe restrictions on freedom of association in the Maldives. All of MDN’s funds were seized in January 2020. The organization and its staff were made targets of a violent smear campaign and judicial harassment, forcing some into exile.
No concrete actions have been taken against ultra-nationalist extremist groups that have actively targeted civil society organizations and human rights defenders. Similar smear campaigns on social media have also been used to attack activists working on the rights of gender minorities.
These actions constitute grave violations of the fundamental freedoms of expression and association.
The persistent intimidation, harassment, and violence against journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society groups, coupled with excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests in response to peaceful protests, reveal a systematic disregard for civil liberties in the country.
Call to Action
“FORUM-ASIA calls on the Government of the Maldives to promptly implement the recommendations made by the Human Rights Committee,” said Mary Aileen Diez-Bacalso, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA.
“To ensure justice for victims and their families, credible, transparent, and independent investigations must be conducted into cases of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings,” Bacalso added.
The findings of the DDCom must be made public without further delay.
We call for the immediate reinstatement of MDN and the return of its seized funds.
The government must also take decisive action to curb threats of violence and prosecute extremist groups, demonstrating its commitment to protecting free expression.
The Maldivian authorities must take immediate and decisive measures to protect journalists and human rights defenders, ensuring they can operate without fear of retribution. Smear campaigns and threats against them should be thoroughly investigated.
The government must work towards creating a safe and enabling civic space, wherein people can freely and safely exercise their freedom of expression and right to information.
FORUM-ASIA supports the Committee’s recommendation for the Maldivian Government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards the excessive use of force by law enforcement. Those unlawfully detained must be released, and there must be accountability for these violations to restore public trust in the rule of law.
