Search Results for: maldives

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and several other human rights organizations on Thursday issued a joint statement urging the government of the Republic of Maldives to withdraw plans to end its death penalty moratorium and introduce capital punishment for drug-related crimes. HRW warned that the Maldives’ recent proposal would violate its obligations under international law, including [...]

Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Thursday for accountability for the toxic spills that have affected children living near Lega Dembi gold mine in Ethiopia, urging the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to ask the Ethiopian government to suspend mining operations and take measures to safeguard children’s health. HRW reported that [...]

Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu signed a controversial media bill into law on Thursday, giving a new government-backed commission broader power to fine media outlets and even shut them down. In its press release, the President’s Office maintained that the new law “seeks to prevent the spread of false information” and “establish a framework that [...]

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Thursday called on Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to reject a proposed media bill introduced in Parliament, saying it would severely undermine press freedom and place the media under government control in the country. The bill, introduced in the Maldives Parliament on August 18, 2025, aims to replace existing [...]

A coalition of rights organizations on Wednesday issued a joint statement urging the Maldives to reconsider proposed legislative amendments that would reinstate the death penalty for drug trafficking, citing concerns that the punishment is archaic, inhumane, and runs contrary to international human rights standards. The nine organizations expressed alarm after Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of [...]

The UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) reported on Saturday a transition towards more inclusive global participation in outer space activities, with the growing involvement of Global South countries, including Ghana, Maldives, Tonga and Côte d’Ivoire. Having long been dominated by technologically advanced countries, outer space is now becoming increasingly accessible [...]

The UN expressed criticism on Monday of the Maldives Parliament’s dismissal of two judges from the country’s Supreme Court. The UN Human Rights Office claimed that the government’s recent anti-corruption investigations targeted at Supreme Court judges threaten the independence of the judiciary. The UN cited the timing of the investigations that led to the dismissal [...]

The UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, expressed concerns on Thursday over the suspension and disciplinary actions taken against three judges of the Supreme Court of Maldives. The UN expert indicated that these suspensions are aimed at preventing the Supreme Court from reviewing a constitutional amendment announced in November [...]

Nicaragua withdrew its application to intervene in the proceedings of South Africa v Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday without citing any reason behind its decision. The initial application was made under Article 36, paragraph 1 and Article 62 of the Statute of the Court. The case, which was related to [...]

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second son, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, was arrested Saturday on corruption charges, according to local media. He was arrested on the advice of the Attorney General after it was determined that there was sufficient evidence to charge him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006. Yoshitha Rajapaksa [...]