President requests counsel of parliament regarding conventions

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has decided to ask the Parliament to revise three international conventions taken part by the Maldives. The President also decided to request the counsel of the Parliament for the Maldives to take part in the Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics (APCAS).

The President decided so after a cabinet meeting discussion where papers were presented by the Gender Ministry, Fisheries Ministry and the Economic Ministry.

Discussions were held regarding the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC), Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics and revising the obligations of Article 16 of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The RKC by World Customs Organization or The International Convention on Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures states the main principles regarding customs services. The purpose of the convention is to create similar customs policies between countries for convenience to businesses and enhance the controls of customs authorities.

APCAS or Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics vies to efficiently manage the agricultural statistics of Asian Pacific nations and allow the congregation of key players to meet in one location. A meeting of the Convention members is held once in two years to share the statistics with the Food and Agricultural Organization.

The cabinet also recommended lifting some of the obligations on the Maldives in Article 16 of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The recommendations were made regarding Article 16’s, Section (1), Subsections (B), (E), (G), and (H) as well as Section 2 of CEDAW’s Article 16.

CEDAW was formed to eliminate and address all discriminations and challenges faced by women in obtaining education, health care, employment, income, political involvement, civil rights, etc.