The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) held this year's first "HRCM–CSO Partnership Forum" today at the Customs Hall. The one-day forum was themed "Workplace Safety and Well-being." The forum highlighted workplace challenges and the importance of implementing protective measures. A total of 30 participants representing 25 civil society organizations took part in the event. At the opening ceremony, the Vice President of the Commission, Mohamed Shafeeq Mahmood, addressed the participants. In his remarks, the Vice President highlighted the vital role of civil society organizations and emphasized the importance of raising awareness regarding occupational health and safety.

During the forum, an expert in the field, Dr. Mohamed Abdulla, delivered a presentation on health and safety. This was followed by a panel discussion on workplace safety and well-being. The panelists—including Ibrahim Zahir, President of the Maldives Occupational Health and Safety Association; Dr. Mohamed Abdulla, Consultant at the Human Rights Commission; and Mariyam Shimna, Director of the Commission's Investigation Department—shared information with the participants. Following the panel, Commission Director Khadheeja Limya and Whistleblower Protection Unit Director Fathimath Ahmed spoke on the legal protections afforded to workers in the Maldives. As the concluding item of the forum, Mariyam Shifana delivered a presentation on behalf of the Maldivian Nurses Association.

This forum is part of an ongoing series of programs conducted by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) since December 2023. The primary objective of this initiative is to strengthen the Commission's relationship with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), establish a robust environment for sustained collaboration, and broadly discuss human rights-related issues.