The Maldives delegation led by the Speaker of the national parliament, Abdulla Shahid, included MPs from the Maldivian Peoples Party (DRP), the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).
During the meeting at IPU headquarters in Geneva on Monday afternoon, IPU agreed to provide its expertise on a draft protection and privileges bill for members of parliament (MPs) with the aim of having it adopted by all sides in the parliament as quickly as possible.
The input into the draft bill will be followed by another IPU mission to Maldives to facilitate dialogue between the parties as international concern grows over the political tension and protests in the country. The situation has been deteriorating since early February this year when incumbant President Mohamed Nasheed was replaced by his deputy Mohamed Waheed.
Earlier in the day, the Maldives Minister for Gender and Human Rights Dhiyana Saeed and two Maldivian MPs separately appeared before the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. They gave statements on alleged human rights abuses of MPs against the backdrop of political tensions and protests in the country.
IPU has been providing on-going support to Maldives through its parliament by facilitating dialogue, helping draft legislation and strengthening the relationship between parliament and executive government.
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