Maldives

The Maldives have a permanent standing NMIRF which is a three-tier inter-agency mechanism coordinated by the Attorney General’s Office. It includes a Steering Committee, a mid-level NMIRF Committee, and Treaty-based Subcommittees. The mechanism ensures comprehensive engagement with international human rights mechanisms and integrates human rights into national planning.

Maldives NMIRF is a three tier inter-agency mechanism. The Attorney General’s Office is the Secretariat of the Mechanism. The work is specifically undertaken by the Human Rights and International Affairs Division of the Office.

Composition The three-tiers of the Maldives NMIRF are:

1.1.1 Tier 1 - NMIRF Steering Committee- This Steering Committee comprises of the President’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Steering Committee is a high-level committee and will make final policy decisions regarding the works of the NMIRF. If a certain meeting of the NMIRF Steering Committee is held to decide on a matter relating to a specific treaty work, then the lead agency for that treaty will join the Steering Committee meeting.

1.1.2 Tier 2 – NMIRF Committee- This mid-level Committee comprises of technical representatives from Ministries and State institutions. This Committee oversees the execution of general NMIRF works, including formulation of work plans and oversight of the National Recommendations Tracking Database. This Committee is also responsible to carry out the reporting, follow-up and monitoring of implementation of the recommendations from the Universal Periodic Review process. The NMIRF Committee comprises of technical level members only as this Committee is envisaged to have constant members as much as possible, in order to retain institutional memory and ensure continuity of the main work of the NMIRF. These technical level members are also the technical representation in the Treaty-based Subcommittees, if their institution is part of that Treaty-based Subcommittee.

1.1.3 Tier 3 - Treaty-based Subcommittees The Treaty-based Subcommittees comprise of relevant Ministries and State institutions, specific to carrying out the implementation of the specific treaties. The Subcommittees have a policy level and technical level representation from each Ministry, Government agency and State institution that is a member of the Subcommittee. These Subcommittees carry out the formulation of reports, attend review sessions and directly monitor and implementation of recommendations from the respective treaty body.

Membership The Maldives NMIRF is composed of focal points appointed from various Government ministries and State institutions, and covers all branches of the State. Upon request from the NMIRF, the relevant institutions nominate focal points to serve on the respective committees and subcommittees. Multiple focal points may be nominated to different committees and subcommittees, depending on the functions they perform within their respective organizations. For example, the Ministry of Social and Family Development is represented on most subcommittees, and the focal points appointed to each subcommittee may vary depending on their work expertise.

Currently, responsibilities related to the NMIRF are not integrated into the official job descriptions of the focal points.

The list below indicates the State entities involved in the work of NMIRF.

1. President's Office
2. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
3. Ministry of Finance and Planning
4. Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
5. Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure
6. Ministry of Education
7. Ministry of Social and Family Development
8. Ministry of Health
9. Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology
10. Ministry of Islamic Affairs
11. Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts
12. Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works
13. Ministry of Defence
14. Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage
15. Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
16. Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Rights
17. Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development
18. Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation
19. Ministry of Tourism and Environment
20. Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
21. People's Majlis (Parliament)
22. Department of Judicial Administration (representing the Judiciary)
23. Employment Tribunal
24. Judicial Service Commission
25. Civil Service Commission
26. Elections Commission
27. Prosecutor General's Office
28. Information Commissioner's Office
29. Anti-Trafficking in Person's Office
30. Family Protection Authority
31. Local Government Authority
32. Maldives Immigration
33. Maldives Bureau of Statistics
34. Maldives Correctional Service
35. Children and Family Protection Service
36. Maldives Police Service
37. National Counter Terrorism Center
38. Department of National Registration
39. Labour Relations Authority
40. Maldives Broadcasting Commission
41. Maldives Media Council
42. Maldives Pension Administration Office
43. National Disability Council
44. National Pay Commission
45. National Disaster Management Authority
46. National Integrity Commission
47. National Social Protection Agency
48. Department of Juvenile Justice

Working methods The Treaty-based Subcommittees are responsible to formulate and finalize State reports to be submitted under international human rights treaties/conventions to which Maldives is party to, in accordance with the Report Formulation Process outlined in the relevant SOP.

o The Treaty-based Subcommittees comprise of relevant Ministries, Government agencies and State institutions, specific to carrying out the implementation of the specific treaties/conventions. The composition of each Subcommittee is detailed in the relevant SOP.

o The Subcommittees have a policy level and technical level representation from each Ministry, Government agency and State institution that is a member of the Subcommittee.

o If required, any additional institutions that are identified as key to a specific reporting cycle, but are not a permanent member of the Treaty-based Subcommittee, can be included in the Treaty-based Subcommittee as temporary members.

o The names of the Subcommittees and the lead agency for each Subcommittee is identified below:

Treaty-based Subcommittee Lead Agency Treaty Body Subcommittee on International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR Subcommittee) Attorney General’s Office Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) Subcommittee on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR Subcommittee) Attorney General’s Office Human Rights Committee (CCPR) Subcommittee on Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT Subcommittee) Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology Committee against Torture (CAT) Subcommittee on International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD Subcommittee) Attorney General’s Office Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Subcommittee on Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Subcommittee) Ministry of Social and Family Development Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Subcommittee on Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC Subcommittee) Ministry of Social and Family Development Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Sub-Committee on Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Subcommittee) Ministry of Social and Family Development Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) Subcommittee on International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (CED Subcommittee) (To be determined once the Convention is domesticated) Committee on Enforced Disappearances (CED)

The Treaty-based Subcommittees are required to meet at least once a year and more frequently in a reporting year, on a need basis.

Specific methodology to collect information from the different ministries and other entities for the purpose of drafting a report/replying to requests have been detailed in the relevant SOP (section 5). The Maldives have also begun utilizing the NRTD for information collection. First round of information for the upcoming UPR report is being collected through the NRTD.

In terms of institutional knowledge, the Secretariat maintains a record of reporting deadlines and develops backward timelines for each stage of the report preparation process, as outlined in the SOP to ensure it meets deadlines. It also monitors and oversees the entire process to ensure timely submission of reports.

The NMIRF is responsible for:

Reporting to UN Treaty Bodies and UPR Responding to complaints and communications from UN Special Procedures Hosting visits Following up and implementing recommendations Contributing to legislative changes Human rights education and advocacy

The Terms of Reference (TORs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Maldives NMIRF provide for regular meetings with Committees and Subcommittees. However, to date, most meetings have been held on an as-needed basis. That said, with the increasing engagement with international human rights mechanisms, the NMIRF has been able to hold at least the minimum number of meetings anticipated with the two main Committees and the majority of treaty-based Subcommittees.

The NMIRF includes representatives from all branches of the state, including Parliament and the Judiciary. Consultations are held with the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, CSOs, and independent monitoring institutions. Drafts are shared for feedback during the report preparation process.

COORDINATION

Linkages with the 2030 agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is led by the Ministry of Finance and Planning. The NMIRF Secretariat participates in this process as a stakeholder. The Ministry is a member of the NMIRF.

Channel of communication with the National Statistics Office The Maldives Bureau of Statistics is a permanent member of all treaty-based Subcommittees established under the NMIRF. It provides key statistical data essential for the reporting carried out by the NMIRF.

Channel of communication with the Parliament The Parliament of Maldives is a permanent member of all Treaty-based Subcommittees of the NMIRF. It contributes information for the reporting carried out by the NMIRF. Additionally, the NMIRF actively engages with Parliament on a regular basis to follow up on the implementation of these recommendations and during the preparation of reviews under different human rights treaties.

Channels of communication with the Judiciary The administrative body of the judiciary (Department of Judicial Administration) as well as the judicial oversight body (Judicial Service Commission), are permanent members of all Treaty-based Subcommittees of the NMIRF. It contributes information for the reporting carried out by the NMIRF. Additionally, the NMIRF actively engages with judiciary on a regular basis to follow up on the implementation of these recommendations and during the preparation of reviews under different human rights treaties.

CONSULTATION Consultations are held with the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (which is the National Human Rights Institute of the Maldives), civil society organizations (CSOs), and other independent monitoring institutions (such as the Children’s Ombudsperson’s Office) during the report preparation process. These stakeholders are engaged during the information-gathering phase and are provided with subsequent drafts for their feedback. Further details on the modalities of these consultations can be found in the relevant section of the SOP.

The NMIRF uses Excel sheets and the National Recommendation Tracking Database (NRTD) to manage data. Standing Operating Procedures guide the use of these tools. The Secretariat maintains reporting deadlines and backward timelines.

The NMIRF Secretariat, in collaboration with the OHCHR, conducted a workshop on 14–15 January 2025 to introduce and adopt the National Recommendation Tracking Database (NRTD). Following this training, the Maldives has begun to use the NRTD to collect information for reports and track the implementation of human rights recommendations. However, it is important to note that the Maldives is still in the early stages of this transition. As such, Excel sheets remain the primary tool for managing data collection. The NRTD has been partially used to collect information for the UPR report.

While there is currently no comprehensive or standalone national plan for the implementation of recommendations from international human rights mechanisms, efforts are underway to integrate these recommendations into broader national planning processes. In this regard, the Attorney General’s Office is actively working to incorporate relevant human rights recommendations into the upcoming National Development Plan. This approach is aimed at ensuring that human rights considerations are mainstreamed into national policies, strategies, and development priorities, thereby enhancing coherence between international commitments and domestic implementation. Specific actions plans regarding specific sectors exist, such as the Gender Equality Action Plan.

NMIRF Secretariat Human Rights and International Affairs Division of the Attorney General’s Office https://www.agoffice.gov.mv/#/Media/Awareness