Minister of foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has underscored the need to centre governance on human rights principles, delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Commonwealth Asia Regional Workshop on National Mechanisms for Implementation, Reporting and Follow-Up (NMIRF) in Malé.

The three-day workshop, held from 1–3 December 2025, brings together representatives from Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and multiple Maldivian Government agencies to strengthen national human rights reporting systems and improve coordination on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Dr Khaleel highlighted the importance of embedding dignity, equality and accountability into national governance frameworks. He emphasised that states carry the responsibility to protect fundamental rights through fair legislation, transparent processes and active participation in international monitoring mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review and treaty bodies.

Minister Dr Khaleel also thanked the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for partnering with the Maldives to host the workshop, noting that the programme provides an essential platform for knowledge-sharing and institutional capacity building across the region.

The opening session featured additional remarks from Dr Justin Pettit, Acting Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Commonwealth Secretariat, and Adnan Cheema, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative. Both underscored the importance of strengthened NMIRF structures to ensure timely implementation, reporting and follow-up of international human rights obligations.

Organised jointly by the Commonwealth Secretariat, OHCHR and the Government of Maldives, the workshop aims to support member states in enhancing coordination, improving reporting mechanisms, and reinforcing national architectures for the protection and promotion of human rights.