Attorney General Ahmed Usham has reaffirmed that the rights of persons with disabilities are inseparable from human dignity, as the Maldives took part in its review of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

The Maldives acceded to the CRPD in April 2010 and submitted its initial report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018, covering progress made between 2010 and 2018. Following the Committee’s List of Issues in 2022, the Maldives submitted its responses in April 2023.

The review session, held on Wednesday, consisted of two interactive discussions where the Committee engaged with the Maldivian delegation on the country’s implementation efforts.

Delivering the opening statement, Attorney General Usham stressed that disability rights are fundamental to human dignity, requiring equal opportunities, full participation, and the removal of barriers that restrict individuals’ potential. He noted that the Maldives has moved toward an integrated policy approach, ensuring disability issues are mainstreamed across all major national strategies rather than treated in isolation.

The Maldivian delegation was headed by Attorney General Usham and included senior representatives from the Attorney General’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Education.