Maldives’ Administrations Have Ignored, Undermined Environment: HRW

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report titled 'Undermined Environment' on Tuesday, accusing the Maldives government of ignoring or undermining environmental protection laws, increasing flooding risks and other harm to island communities. The report documents how reclamation projects are rushed, lack proper mitigation and monitoring, and proceed without adequate public consultation. It highlights failures in Kulhudhuffushi, where the government overrode environment regulators and buried 70% of the island's mangroves to construct an airport, harming local livelihoods. HRW urged President-elect Mohamed Muizzu to ensure human rights and environmental protection are central to development policies. The report also calls on international climate finance providers to require robust evaluation of reclamation projects. Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at HRW, stated that while the international community must help the Maldives adapt to climate change, the Maldives cannot ignore its own environmental laws.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report titled 'Undermined Environment' on Tuesday, accusing the Maldives government of ignoring or undermining environmental protection laws, increasing flooding risks and other harm to island communities. The report documents how reclamation projects are rushed, lack proper mitigation and monitoring, and proceed without adequate public consultation. It highlights failures in Kulhudhuffushi, where the government overrode environment regulators and buried 70% of the island's mangroves to construct an airport, harming local livelihoods. HRW urged President-elect Mohamed Muizzu to ensure human rights and environmental protection are central to development policies. The report also calls on international climate finance providers to require robust evaluation of reclamation projects. Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at HRW, stated that while the international community must help the Maldives adapt to climate change, the Maldives cannot ignore its own environmental laws.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report titled 'Undermined Environment' on Tuesday, accusing the Maldives government of ignoring or undermining environmental protection laws, increasing flooding risks and other harm to island communities. The report documents how reclamation projects are rushed, lack proper mitigation and monitoring, and proceed without adequate public consultation. It highlights failures in Kulhudhuffushi, where the government overrode environment regulators and buried 70% of the island's mangroves to construct an airport, harming local livelihoods. HRW urged President-elect Mohamed Muizzu to ensure human rights and environmental protection are central to development policies. The report also calls on international climate finance providers to require robust evaluation of reclamation projects. Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at HRW, stated that while the international community must help the Maldives adapt to climate change, the Maldives cannot ignore its own environmental laws.

This story involves 1 source and may affect public understanding of human rights / reclamation.