In today’s meeting the committee discussed the working quorum of the committee. The Standing Order states that the working quorum of a committee shall not be lower than 1/3 of its members. Member for Huraa constituency, Anara Naeem proposed to set the working quorum to 4 members. Member for Dhangethi constituency, Abdulla Rasheed seconded the proposal. The voting details are as follows.

Vote: Committee Working Quorum as 4 members

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 7

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 7

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Vote Result: Passed with all members present and voting.

Next item on the agenda was to decide the voting quorum of the committee. Member for Huraa constituency, Anara Naeem proposed to the voting quorum as 5 members and Member for Central Henveyru constituency, Hussain Nasih seconded this proposal. The voting details are as follows.

Vote: Committee Voting Quorum to be 5 members

Total no. of members: 11

Number of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 7

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 7

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Result: Passed with all members present and voting.

Then, the committee discussed the guideline to follow regarding the issues/letters submitted by Individuals, state institutions and Members. Member for Huraa constituency, Anara Naeem proposed to adopt the guideline that has been followed by the 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee. The guideline states that the committee chairperson has the authority to gather information from State institutions at the initial stage and if a decision needs to be taken regarding the issue, it must be decided in a committee meeting. Member for Vaikaradhoo Constituency, Hussain Ziyad seconded this proposal. Following are the voting details of this proposal.

Vote: To follow the guideline of the Human Rights and Gender Committee of 19th Majlis, regarding the individual complaints, issues received from the State institutions and Members.

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 7

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 7

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Vote result: Passed with all members present and voting.

The committee also deliberated on a guideline to review the Annual Reports and other reports received by the committee. Member for Vaikaradhoo Constituency, Hussain Ziyad proposed to adopt the guideline followed by the 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee regarding the review of Annual Reports and other reports received by the committee. Member for Kudahuvadhoo Constituency, Hussain Hameed seconded this proposal. The following are the voting details for this proposal.

Vote: To adopt the guideline followed by the 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee regarding the review of Annual Reports and other reports received by the committee.

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 08

Voted Yes: 07

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 07

No. of votes required to Pass: 04

Vote Result: Passed with all members present and voting.

The Committee then discussed the guideline to follow regarding the review of the visit reports sent by the State institutions. Unless and otherwise there is an urgency to attend an issue in the report, Member for Huraa constituency, Anara Naeem proposed to review the reports once in every parliamentary session. Member for Vaikaradhoo Constituency, Hussain Ziyad seconded the proposal. The voting details are as follows.

Vote: If not urgent, review the visit reports once in every parliamentary session.

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 7

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 07

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Result: Passed with all members present and voting.

Next on the agenda was to discuss the guideline regarding the copy letters received by the committee. Member for Huraa constituency, Anara Naeem proposed to adopt the guideline followed by the 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee regarding the copy letters. The guideline allowed the committee secretariat to review the letters at the initial stage and if there is a need for a committee decision or a discussion, the committee secretariat to discuss with the chairperson and table the letter for a committee meeting for its decision. Member for Vaikaradhoo Constituency, Hussain Ziyad seconded the proposal. The voting details are as follows.

Vote: To adopt the guideline followed by the 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee regarding copy letters.

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 6

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 6

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Vote Result: Passed with 6 members present and voting.

The committee also discussed the guideline to follow regarding the letters received by the committee to identify the actions taken for the Resolutions passed by the IPU Assembly. Member for Huraa constituency, Anara Naeem proposed to adopt the decision made in the 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee regarding this issue. That is to inform the Foreign Relations Department of the People’s Majlis Secretariat to send the request to the committee along with the actions taken by the state institutions. Member for Vaikaradhoo Constituency, Hussain Ziyad seconded the proposal. The voting details are as follows.

Vote: To adopt the decision of 19th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee regarding the Resolutions passed in the IPU Assembly.

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 6

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 6

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Vote Result: Passed with all members present and voting.

Next, the committee deliberated on the formulation of a committee work plan. The Standing Order states that within 2 months of a new parliamentary term, each parliamentary committee shall formulate a work plan to oversee the works of the state institutions under their mandate. Member for Kudahuvadhoo Constituency, Hussain Hameed proposed the committee secretariat to prepare a draft work plan and submit it to the committee before 4th July 2024. Member for Vaikaradhoo Constituency, Hussain Ziyad seconded the proposal. The voting details are as follows.

Vote: Committee secretariat to submit a draft work plan to the committee before 4th July 2024.

Total no. of members: 11

No. of members present: 8

Voted Yes: 6

Voted No: 0

Abstain: 0

Total Voted: 6

No. of votes required to Pass: 4

Vote Result: Passed with all members present and voting.

Then, the committee reviewed the Legacy Report prepared by the 19^th Majlis Human Rights and Gender Committee. The committee discussed the recommendations that was passed on to the 20^th Majlis. The committee requested the Committee chairperson to decide after discussing with the committee secretariat. 

Next, the committee decided to have introductory meetings with the institutions under the committee’s mandate. The committee requested the chairperson to decide on the dates for the meetings.

Finally, regarding the meeting request sent by the International Foundation for Electoral systems (IFES), the committee discussed and decided to meet with IFES after a month.