Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has stated it is currently investigating 74 cases regarding children's rights violations.
Speaking to PSM News, Commissioner Mariyam Muna said HRCM is investigating a total of 633 cases, most of which concern the rights of prisoners, cases regarding the Anti-Torture Act, job-related issues, and children's rights violations. HRCM stated cases of children's rights violations have increased in 2020 and 2021, with 67 cases filed last year and seven cases filed this year. The cases include child neglect, guardians not taking responsibility for their children, child abuse, and other human rights issues, stated HRCM.
Furthermore, HRCM noted that prisoner's rights violations have also increased and that it is currently investigating 90 such cases, which includes 60 cases from last year and 30 cases from this year. Most of the cases consist of authorities allegedly neglecting to provide medical treatment or other basic rights to prisoners.
The commission stated job-related cases have also increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that it is currently investigating 38 such cases. These cases include issues over neglecting to pay workers, job dismissals, and numerous cases over the lack of employment opportunities for foreign workers.
Most of the health-related cases are related to COVID-19 as well, with HRCM receiving 38 cases related to neglect or delay in medical treatment and 12 cases concerning the rights of people with special needs. HRCM stated it has concluded nine cases of human rights violations and sent five cases that fall under the Anti-Torture Act to the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) and concluded 129 cases in total this year.