Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_ According to Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain, Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, the country’s sustainable development cannot be realized with full potential without the complete, equitable, effective, and meaningful participation and contribution of women in all levels of society. These statements were made by Ambassador Thilmeeza during her address at the 2023 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Partnership Forum on expediting the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at all levels.
Ambassador Thilmeeza stated that the pandemic exacerbated elements of gender equality, as women faced the major burden of the pandemic’s economic impact. She also underlined the Maldives’ appeal for the complete, equal, effective, and meaningful engagement of women in all sectors of life in order to accomplish the goals towards sustainable development. She highlighted the serious impacts of COVID-19 on the Maldives’ economy and stressed how its sharp and unexpected factors affected the vital tourism sector.
Under the advocacy of ECOSOC, the Partnership Forum organizes annual gatherings that bring together governments, the commercial and non-profit sectors, UN institutions, and civil society to engage and promote discussion on how partnerships may enhance international development. The Ambassador further added that the Maldives understood economic recovery necessitated uniform vaccination, greater health investment, and strict efforts to prevent the spread, while also providing assistance to the most vulnerable households and businesses impacted by the crises.
Ambassador Thilmeeza attributed the success of Maldives’ actions to the partnerships made under President Solih’s leadership. She noted that the government’s cooperation between all levels of administration, from the national to the local; collaborations with the private sector, civil society, and media; and the strong support of the nation’s international partners, including the United Nations, have all led to the success.