Ref: 2025/PR/360
Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulla Khaleel delivered the keynote address at today’s opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Asia Regional Workshop on National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-Up (NMIRF) and Human Rights Reporting, being held from 1–3 December 2025 in Malé, Maldives.
Organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Government of the Republic of Maldives, the workshop serves as a vital platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and capacity building on human rights reporting and SDG follow-up. It aims to strengthen NMIRF structures across the region.
In his remarks, Minister Dr. Khaleel expressed gratitude to the Commonwealth and OHCHR for hosting the workshop in the Maldives, emphasizing its role in enhancing the knowledge and skills of participants. He welcomed delegates from fellow Commonwealth states, underscoring the shared commitment to human rights as fundamental to dignity and equality. Minister Dr Khaleel also highlighted the responsibility of States to uphold these rights through fair laws, transparency, and active engagement with international mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and treaty bodies. He concluded by reaffirming the collective commitment to placing human rights at the core of governance and advancing NMIRF’s vital work.
The opening session also featured remarks by Dr. Justin Pettit, Acting Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Mr. Adnan Cheema, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. and UNDP Resident Representative. The three-day workshop brings together participants from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, and various agencies of the Government of Maldives.
ENDS