News:
Madame President
New Zealand welcomes the participation of Maldives in this process.
New Zealand commends Maldives for successfully hosting free and fair democratic elections in 2019 and for its progress strengthening its judiciary.
Noting Maldives’ moratorium on executions, New Zealand recommends that the Maldives take further steps towards the formal abolition of the death penalty.
New Zealand recommends Maldives make further efforts to protect and promote the rights of women and girls and eliminate gender-based discrimination. In particular, New Zealand recommends that Maldives take further steps to increase the representation of women in Parliament.
New Zealand recommends Maldives decriminalises consensual same-sex relationships between adults, and takes action to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
New Zealand also recommends Maldives takes concrete measuresto protect and promote the right to freedom of expression.
Thank you Madame President.