Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel has concluded his participation in the high-level segment of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, where he represented the Maldives at ministerial-level discussions in Geneva.

During the general debate, the Foreign Minister delivered the Maldives’ national statement, reiterating the country’s commitment to international human rights principles and continued engagement with global human rights mechanisms. He highlighted the role of multilateral cooperation and dialogue in promoting and protecting universal human rights standards.

On the sidelines of the session, Minister Dr Khaleel held bilateral discussions with a number of international counterparts and representatives, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Meetings were also held with heads of delegations from Angola, Cuba, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Slovakia, Iceland, Slovenia, San Marino, Russia and the United Kingdom, as well as with the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

The Foreign Minister also met with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization to discuss areas of cooperation related to labour and institutional development. During the meeting, the Maldives formally deposited its instrument of ratification for the 1986 amendment to the ILO Constitution, marking a further step in strengthening engagement with international labour governance frameworks.

Minister Dr Khaleel participated as a panellist in a side event focusing on women’s political leadership in multilateral forums. The event, organised by Slovenia’s Permanent Mission and co-sponsored by the Maldives, examined the role of women in advancing inclusive and effective decision-making within international institutions.

During the session, the Maldives announced its candidacy for election to the Human Rights Council for the 2028–2030 term, positioning the country to seek a role in contributing to the Council’s work on human rights promotion and protection at the global level.