President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has highlighted a series of operational and institutional reforms introduced to strengthen the Maldives' response to human trafficking, while calling for collective vigilance to protect human dignity.
In a message marking the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, President Dr Muizzu called on civil society, employers, law enforcement agencies and the public to remain vigilant to ensure the country's economic growth, digital and technological advancements, and international connectivity are not exploited to facilitate human trafficking.
The President reaffirmed the Maldives' commitment to working with the international community to protect human dignity, freedom and fundamental rights.
He said this year's theme, "Trapped Behind the Scam," highlights the evolving nature of human trafficking and the growing misuse of technology by criminal networks, describing it as a major challenge across the region where vulnerable people continue to be exploited and forced into criminal activity through large-scale scam operations.
President Dr Muizzu said the Maldives, as a country whose economy relies on international partnerships and a diverse workforce, remains committed to protecting the dignity and human rights of every individual within its borders.
He highlighted Operation Kurangi as one of the decisive measures taken by his Administration to fulfil this responsibility, noting that the operation had significantly reduced the number of unverified work permits and substantially expanded biometric coverage of the foreign workforce.
The President said these operational measures had been accompanied by institutional reforms under the Human Trafficking Prevention Act.
These include the development of the country's first National Action Plan on Human Trafficking and the submission of the first statutory annual report on the Maldives' anti-human trafficking efforts to the Parliament.
President Dr Muizzu also noted that the Government had reconstituted the National Anti-Human Trafficking Coordination Committee at the policymaking level.
He added that the Migrant Workers Resource Centre and its Migrant Connect Portal had been established to provide support to workers facing abuse.
The President said the reforms are intended to reduce vulnerabilities, enable those at risk to seek assistance, and strengthen the capacity of institutions to identify exploitation and hold offenders accountable.
He added that the Maldives Anti-Human Trafficking Strategic Plan 2026–2029 provides a clear path forward through improved victim identification and protection, stronger investigation and prosecution, and closer cooperation with all stakeholders, including international partners.
President Dr Muizzu acknowledged that significant challenges remain despite the progress made and said addressing them requires collective action across sectors and borders.
Affirming that human dignity is non-negotiable, he called for a renewed commitment to building a Maldives where institutions act with one voice, development is accompanied by justice, and every person is treated with dignity and respect.