A/HRC/43/50/Add.2
97.
In order to increase human rights mainstreaming into planning for and
responding to environmental threats and climate change, the Government should:
(a)
Ensure that all government actions and policy decisions that have an
impact on the environment are taken with a holistic and ecosystem-wide approach;
(b)
Develop further awareness-raising campaigns about climate change, and
the problem of climate denial, and include information about the effects of
environmental threats and climate change on culture, cultural heritage, food security
and livelihoods;
(c)
Provide support for initiatives that are aimed at promoting and
developing sustainable interactions with natural resources, including knowledge and
skills related to the ocean, responsible fishing, organic farming, coastal protection and
wetlands;
(d)
Add consideration of the issues of cultural landscapes and heritage to
environmental impact assessments conducted in cases of tourism-related and other
development projects.
98.
In order to combat the rise of fundamentalism, the authorities should:
(a)
Fully implement the recommendations of the Commission on
Investigation of Murders and Enforced Disappearances, bring to justice all alleged
perpetrators and ensure that all witnesses are protected;
(b)
Consider ways to memorialize the victims of fundamentalist violence so
as to counter the vilification campaigns against them and send a clear message in
favour of human rights, and support civil society organizations in such efforts;
(c)
Urgently and effectively combat fundamentalist ideology in accordance
with international standards, including in the sphere of education and through the
promotion of culture and arts;
(d)
Promote the universality of human rights and the separation of religion
and State as essential means of guaranteeing cultural rights and freedom of religion or
belief for all, and clarify that such concepts are entirely compatible with respect for
religion, in accordance with international standards;
(e)
Prosecute members of fundamentalist groups that are inciting violence,
including online, and take measures to effectively address the growing problem of
online hate speech;
(f)
Stop pressuring civil society organizations to censor themselves, lift
without delay the suspension on the Maldivian Democracy Network and demonstrate
commitment to freedom of expression;
(g)
Ensure that human rights defenders and experts working to counter
fundamentalism are able to do their work without facing restrictions, threats or
coercion.
99.
The Human Rights Commission of Maldives should:
(a)
Advance positive narratives and raise awareness about the importance
of human rights, including cultural rights;
(b)
Work to enhance the protection of the human rights of religious
minorities and migrants;
(c)
Establish a national protection system for human rights defenders, as
defined in the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and
Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms (Declaration on Human Rights Defenders), including women
human rights defenders and cultural rights defenders;
(d)
Systematically monitor the progress made by the Government in
following up on and implementing the recommendations of United Nations human
rights mechanisms, and report on this progress both nationally and internationally.
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