Universal Periodic Review (UPR)
The UPR is a State-driven process under the auspices of the United Nations Human Rights Council aimed at improving human rights situations in all countries through peer review, and also addressing violations of human rights wherever they may occur. The UPR Working Group holds three sessions per year.
The UPR is currently undergoing its 4th cycle, which began in November 2022.
The Maldives has been reviewed four times so far. The Maldives completed its 4th review in November 2025.
First Cycle – 3 November 2010
Second Cycle – 6 May 2015
Third Cycle – 4 November 2020
Fourth Cycle – 5 November 2025
Details of the Maldives UPR review and recommendations can be found here.
At the national level, the UPR process is led by the Attorney General’s Office, with the support of an inter-Ministerial committee, and other relevant stakeholders.
Special procedures mandate holders
The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council are either an individual (called "Special Rapporteur" or "Independent Expert") or a working group composed of five members, one from each of the five United Nations regional groupings: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Western group with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a thematic or country-specific perspective. The Special Procedures covers all human rights which includes civil, cultural, economic, political, and social. A mandate holder’s tenure is limited to a maximum of six years.
Scope of work
- Conduct country visits,
- Send communications to States on individual cases of alleged violations and concerns of a broader, structural nature
- Conduct thematic studies and convene expert consultations, contributing to the development of international human rights standards,
- Raising raise public awareness and advocacy
- Consulting on technical cooperation.
- Special Procedures report annually to the Human Rights Council and the majority of the mandates also report annually to the General Assembly.
There are 46 thematic and 14 country mandates as of June 2026.
On 2 May 2006, the Maldives extended an open invitation to all Special Procedures Mandate holders. This invitation was reiterated in February 2019, and in February 2024.
Special Procedures Mandate Holders who have visited the Maldives
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion, 6 - 10 August 2006
- Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges, 25 February – 1 March 2007
- Special Rapporteur on Housing, 18-26 February 2009
- Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, 1 – 5 March 2009
- Special Rapporteur on Internally Displaced Persons, 15 – 22 July 2011
- Special Rapporteur on Independence of Judges, 17 – 24 February 2013
- Special Rapporteur in the field of Cultural Rights, 9-18 June 2019
- Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 17-24 November 2019
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, 1-8 March 2020.
- Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, 29 November-10 December 2021.
- Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, 15 – 24 May 2022
- Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, 11 September – 22 November 2022
- Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, 12-21 March 2024
- Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, 16 - 25 April 2024
- Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, 26 April - 7 May 2026.