Human Rights Commission of the Maldives:
Imprisonment of two young girls
The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has always closely
monitored the State Children’s Centre, owing to the number of cases it
receives concerning the Centre. The HRCM has a mandate both generally as
the NHRI under its establishing legislation and as the NPM under OPCAT.
Two girls who were victims of both sexual and physical abuse were detained
in the Shelter for psychological and social rehabilitation and treatment. When
they escaped from the Centre, the Gender Ministry sought the assistance of
the Police to find them but, when they were found, they were first held at a
police custodial centre and then transported to the main prison on a boat with
convicted criminals. The HRCM had become aware through the media of the girls’ escape from the Centre and sought
the assistance of Gender Ministry. It was informed that the girls had been found and were being
accommodated in a residential area of Maafushi Island, where they were being well looked after.
A team from the HRCM went to the Maafushi Prison for a random check. Upon inquiry, it learned
that the girls had been placed in the prison for the want of a place to house them. The HRCM
at once launched an investigation. It made a public statement and began dialogue with the
authorities. Eventually, the parliament took up the issue. After several meetings, including with
the President of the Maldives, the HRCM argued that the girls could not be placed in the prison
under any circumstances because the prison had no legal mandate to hold underage girls with no
criminal records. The HRCM considered this a violation of the rights of the child and an unlawful
disappearance, since the girls’ whereabouts were withheld from the HRCM itself.
The HRCM secured the girls’ transfer to an annex at the State Children’s Centre, in accordance
with their entitlement to State care. The legal aspects of the case are continuing. P142