Maldives

February 2017: Meeting with GVA mission. Interestingly remembered seeing the invitation to the first conference! She was surprised there was such low support from other Asian countries. Felt positively about support from capital. Very easy, simple meeting.

July 2018: Gisela and Nevena met with Ms Aishath Shahula, First Scretary, PM of Maldives in Geneva. She explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is positive about endorsement and that the process is on hold by the Ministry of Education. We sent a letter of encouragement to the MoE copying the MFA.

July 2018: Co-sponsored resolution 2427 (2018).

September 2019: GCPEA met with the First Secretary at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Maldives, who was very nice and seems favourably disposed on a personal level. She knows well the initiative and has made a positive recommendation for endorsement to her capital back in 2017. She said that the endorsement apparently was on hold at the Office of the Attorney General, and that there are some other complications – endorsement would require not only the consent of Attorney General, but also approval by parliamentary vote. GCPEA followed-up sharing letters addressed to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education encouraging endorsement.

September 2021: Endorsed the SSD

November 2022: Endorsed the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) on 18 November during an International Conference hosted by Ireland, the leader and penholder behind the Declaration.

November 2022: On 15 November, Apolline and Nevena met with Mr. Hassan Hussain Shihab, Counsellor at the PM in Geneva (recently elected at the HRC for 2023). We encouraged their country to take concrete steps on implementing the SSD – incorporating the Guidelines in national policies, doctrines and legislations, upcoming opportunities through the state-led implementation network. We discussed opportunities to collaborate at the HRC and in general at the Geneva level through the Core Group on SSD (they had joined last year). We also encouraged them to conduct peer-to-peer advocacy, particularly through the Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) group. The Maldives chairs the SIDS group, and I pitched the idea of them hosting a briefing on the SSD for the group.