the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has issued a directive mandating law enforcement agencies to swiftly initiate investigations upon receiving reports of missing children. The directive, designed to streamline the investigation and prosecution process for cases related to child abuse and exploitation, underscores the commitment of the PGO to address these grave concerns.
The PGO disclosed that cases involving child abuse and exploitation often face numerous hurdles in progressing through the investigative and prosecutorial stages. To address these challenges, the directive provides clear instructions on how law enforcement agencies should conduct investigations and bring charges in such cases. By standardising approaches across all agencies within the criminal justice system, the PGO aims to ensure consistency and effectiveness in handling these sensitive matters.
Highlighting the primary objective behind the issuance of the guideline, the PGO emphasised the critical importance of promptly investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in grooming, recruiting, and abusing children.
Furthermore, the PGO underscored its responsibility under the Prosecutor General's Act, Article 15, to ensure that all investigations and prosecutions adhere to the law. In accordance with the Maldives Child Rights Act, any form of child exploitation, including recruiting children for criminal activities or subjecting them to any form of abuse, is strictly prohibited and constitutes a punishable offense.