The Maldives will take part in the 48th Session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group, which began on Monday at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said.

The two-week session, concluding on 31 January, will see the United Nations Human Rights Council review the human rights records of 14 countries, including Angola, Egypt, Italy, and Iran. The Maldives delegation will be led by Dr Salma Rasheed, the country’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva.

“The Maldives delegation will actively engage and provide constructive recommendations during this UPR session, in line with the government’s key policies and priorities,” the ministry said.

The UPR, a state-driven process launched in 2008, reviews the human rights situation in all UN member states and allows countries to report on their progress in meeting international commitments. Member states also offer recommendations for further improvements during these reviews.

Each state’s review is facilitated by a group of three countries, or “troikas,” which act as rapporteurs. The ongoing fourth cycle of the UPR began in November 2022 and will conclude in 2027.

This session is one of three UPR gatherings held annually by the working group.