NEW YORK, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The Indian Ocean republic of Maldives deserves credit for its progress toward democracy but more needs to be done, the U.N. human rights chief said Friday.
Speaking to reporters in New York after her recent visit to the archipelago, Navi Pillay said there still exists a wide gap between rhetoric and reality on the ground there, U.N. News said on its Web site.
She praised the multi-party presidential elections held for the first time in 2008, which ended 30 years of one-party rule.
During her visit, Pillay met with Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, senior officials, opposition leaders, judges and representatives of the civil society.
She said there has been "a dramatic reduction in the incidence of torture" and the country is also promoting dialogue both within South Asia and the Islamic world on the importance of human rights.
"Yet, as virtually all my interlocutors have noted, the process of transition is far from over, and some of the achievements still have shallow roots," Pillay said.
She said the Majlis, or parliament, is not in session because of a series of disputes, which have stalled enactment of critical human rights-related legislation.
