A/HRC/43/50/Add.2 I. Introduction 1. The Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights visited Maldives from 9 to 18 June 2019. She thanks the Government of Maldives for the invitation to visit the country and for its cooperation, which allowed her to hold rich discussions on various aspects of her mandate. 2. During her visit, the Special Rapporteur met with six cabinet ministers from the following ministries: Arts, Culture and Heritage; Education; Environment; Foreign Affairs; Tourism; and Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment. She also met with the deputy ministers from the ministries of Gender, Family and Social Services; Communication, Science and Technology; and Islamic Affairs. In addition, she met with the Ambassador-atLarge of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Attorney General; the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the People’s Majlis (parliament); the National Disaster Management Authority; the Human Rights Commission of Maldives; and a member of the Commission on Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances. She also met with a mayor, city councillors, members of a Women’s Development Committee and former government officials. She regrets that she was unable to see officials from the National Counter Terrorism Centre or the Ministry of Home Affairs. 3. Her meetings with civil society experts and individuals were likewise very rich. She met with persons working in the areas of the arts, children’s rights, culture, cultural heritage, the environment, farming, fishing, fundamentalism and extremism, handicrafts, history, the print and online media, the rights of persons with disabilities, sports and recreation and women’s human rights. In addition, she met with academics, artists and cultural practitioners, journalists, young people, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, religious leaders and scholars. 4. The Special Rapporteur visited Addu City, Hithadhoo, Meedhoo, Male’ and Villimale’. She visited the National Museum; the Dhivehi Language Academy; a resort in the North Male’ atoll; the Old Friday Mosque; a civil society-run library; a cemetery that is reportedly one of the oldest in Maldives; the protected Eydhigali Kilhi and Koattey Area Addu Nature Park; a beachfront threatened by erosion; public spaces maintained by the authorities and by civil society; and other cultural and historical sites. She extends her thanks to the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office for its assistance. 5. Her mission was the first by a Special Rapporteur since 2013. She commends the Government’s re-engagement with the United Nations human rights system and, in particular, with special procedures mandate holders. In the fourth quarter of 2019, a country visit was also conducted by the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression will visit in March 2020. She hopes further visits will be confirmed in 2020. II. General context and framework 6. The territory of Maldives is made up of a chain of 1,192 coral islands, most of which lie only about 2 metres above sea level. As a result, the country is acutely vulnerable to sea level rise due to global climate change, which may potentially pose existential threats. One third of the country’s population lives on the capital island of Male’, where most of the cultural and educational infrastructure and services are concentrated. The remaining inhabitants are spread out on about 187 other islands, 67 per cent of which have less than 1,000 inhabitants, according to government statistics. A total of 44 inhabited islands and many uninhabited islands are dedicated to tourism, the country’s main industry. 7. Since the 1970s rapid development has led to numerous changes in ways of life. The economy and modes of transportation have shifted, and activities such as fishing and subsistence farming have changed dramatically, affecting livelihoods and increasing dependence on public services and international trade. 8. The mission of the Special Rapporteur was conducted during a time of important reform and restructuring of institutions, following the election of the new Government in November 2018. The reforms significantly affected various areas relevant to human rights, including legislation, decentralization and impunity. In her end-of-mission statement, the 3