A/HRC/4/21/Add.3 page 5 I. POLITICAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT 6. The Maldives has a population of approximately 300,000 people. In addition, there are about 31,000 migrant workers, primarily from the South Asia region, based in the Maldives. The country is made up of a chain of 1,190 islands grouped into 26 natural atolls. For administrative purposes these islands have been divided into 20 administrative districts. Only 33 islands have a land area of more than 1 square kilometre. The main industry in the Maldives is tourism and of the 200 inhabited islands, 87 have been designated as tourist islands. Tourists visiting the Maldives stay in the designated resorts, and can visit Male, but have minimum contact with the local population of islands other than Male. 7. The Maldives gained independence in 1965 and became a Republic in 1968 under the presidency of Ibrahim Nasir. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom first came to office in 1978 and was elected for a sixth five-year term in 2003. The President is the Head of State, Head of Government, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Police, Head of the Judiciary. The President also appoints the Cabinet of Ministers. The People’s Majlis (the parliament) is made up of 50 members, of which 42 are elected by popular vote and 8 are appointed by the President. 8. Riots broke out in Male in September 2003 following the death of a prisoner, allegedly as a result of torture. Soon thereafter the President set up a Human Rights Commission. In February 2004, the President announced his intention to convene a People’s Special Majlis (a constituent assembly) to consider and pass constitutional reforms with a view to strengthening democracy. The People’s Special Majlis, for which elections were held in May 2004, is made up of directly elected members, the members of the People’s Majlis, the Cabinet and eight members appointed by the President. In June 2004, President Gayoon proposed wide-ranging constitutional reforms including the right to establish political parties, greater separation of powers, establishing the office of the Prime Minister, limiting the tenure of President to two terms of five years and qualifying women to hold the post of President. 9. Following pro-reform demonstrations in August 2004, which ended in violence, the Maldivian authorities declared a state of emergency and arrested a number of political activists. The state of emergency was lifted on 10 October 2004 and on 22 January 2005 general elections were held. In March 2006, the Government published a Roadmap for the Reform Agenda, which sets out a timetable for the implementation of reforms. The reforms are divided into eight broad categories including (a) strengthening the system of governance; (b) promoting and strengthening the protection of human rights; (c) enhancing the independence of the judiciary; (d) developing the multiparty political system; (e) strengthening the civil service; (f) modernizing the electoral system; (g) enhancing the role of the media; and (h) strengthening key institutions and civil society. 10. The Constitution stipulates that Islam is the State religion and the President is designated as the supreme authority to propagate the tenets of Islam. The President and all cabinet ministers only qualify if they are Sunni Muslims. Members of the People’s Majlis and the People’s Special Majlis, Atoll Chiefs, the judiciary and voters in elections or public referendums are all required to be Muslims. In November 1996, the President has appointed a Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs, which is responsible for providing guidance on religious matters. The functions