Attorney General Ahmed Usham has highlighted that the Maldivian government is dedicated to advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities through all national strategies. He expressed these comments while speaking at the review of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The Maldives joined the Convention on 5 April 2010. In 2018, the nation presented its first report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for evaluation and took part in the review session conducted on Wednesday.

The first report presented by the Maldives outlined the actions taken by the Maldives from 2010 to 2018 to uphold the rights promised to individuals with disabilities under the Convention. The Committee released its List of Issues in 2022, and the Maldives submitted its Replies in April 2023.

The assessment took place over two interactive sessions, where Committee members interacted with the Maldivian delegation regarding advancements in the implementation of the CRPD.

In his initial remarks at the review session, Attorney General Usham emphasized that the rights of individuals with disabilities are fundamental to human dignity and require equal opportunity, complete participation, and the removal of all obstacles that restrict potential. He also emphasized that the Maldives has embraced a comprehensive method to policymaking, ensuring that disability is not addressed separately but is woven into all significant national strategies.

The delegation from the Maldives was headed by Attorney General Usham and comprised high-ranking officials from the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education.