HRCM denies discrediting judiciary

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has stated in court today that the information included in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was never meant to discredit the judiciary.

Lawyer representing HRCM Maumoon Hameed made this statement at a hearing at the Supreme Court, when asked by judges why HRCM acted in a manner that could result in loss of public confidence in the judiciary.

HRCM said that the information included in the report was obtained from surveys conducted by civil society organisation, information published by the government authorities, and investigations carried out by the commission.

Lawyer Maumoon highlighted that the statement in the UPR that public confidence in the judiciary is weak, was not based on the opinion of the commission, but on the results of a survey conducted by a civil society organisation.

The judges asked if HRCM sought the opinion of the judiciary in relation to the report, to which HRCM replied that it did not. Lawyer Maumoon also said that the commission received the judiciary’s cooperation in relation to its efforts to produce this report.

Supreme Court initiated a suo moto case against the members of the HRCM claiming that the UPR included false information regarding the court. The charges were filed under Article 141 of the Constitution, Article 9 of the Judicature Act, and Article 86 of the Supreme Court Regulation.