Four prominent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have released a joint statement denouncing the Maldives Police Service's ongoing suppression of peaceful demonstrations and the detention of media personnel. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Association for Democracy in the Maldives, and Transparency Maldives all signed the declaration.

The statement released by NGOs expresses concern about the restriction on press freedom, peaceful assembly rights, and freedom of expression. The NGOs claim that these limitations violate several Maldivian Constitutional Articles, including Articles 27, 28, 30, and 32. As stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, they contend that these limitations violate international human rights law.

The NGOs denounced the criminalization of peaceful protestors and the absence of oversight of law enforcement officials' conduct. They also questioned the restrictions currently in effect under the Maldives' Peaceful Assembly Act, focusing in particular on Section 24 of the Act, which they claim violates international human rights legislation.

The Maldives Police Service is urged in the statement to support and uphold the right to peaceful assembly without hindrance, and the Executive and Legislative arms of government are urged to cooperate in bringing the law into accordance with international human rights law. The Maldives are encouraged to change policies that go against their international duties as current members of the UN Human Rights Council. They also want that a thorough inquiry is done into the police's acts and that the institution and its employees to be held accountable by the Prosecutor General's Office, National Integrity Commission, and Human Rights Commission of the Maldives.

Together, these groups stand up for human rights and demand an end to the Maldives' suppression of lawful demonstrations.

Since former president Abdulla Yameen was given an 11-year prison sentence, there have been ongoing demonstrations in the Maldives. Yameen, the opposition's nominee for president, was found guilty of money laundering. He has been supported by the opposition, which has been urging fair elections, which are anticipated to be held later this year.