The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has called for the immediate release of two underage females living in the Villingili orphanage, who were arrested and sent to Maafushi prison.
Local media alleged that the two girls, aged 15 and 16, were arrested on December 28, 2012, after escaping the orphanage in the middle of the night to fraternise with some boys.
HRCM asked the Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights to return the girls to the Villingili orphanage immediately, noting that their incarceration in Maafushi prison violated chapter 2, article 35[a] of the constitution.
The commission stated that government authorities had not cooperated with the commission’s investigation and had furthermore provided false information on the matter.
Police Spokesperson Hassan Haneef and the Villingili orphanage were not responding to calls at time of press.
HRCM said that the two girls were living in Villingili when they were arrested and said that HRCM understands that the girls were kept in Dhoonidhoo Police Custodial before they were transferred to Maafushi Prison.
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Is this country going crazy completely?? Putting minors who didn't cause harm to anyone in prison? Those girls are already very unlucky they are orphans, now the police decided to go and bully these girls? Something wrong with "do the dishes for a week because you ran away"?
Instead of a punishment completely out of proportion, these girls should be treated with extra care. Release them immediately!
This is yet another example of the violation of human rights that is rife since this lot grasped power. These girls are the most vulnerable sector of society at a vulnerable age - they certainly don't need or deserve Maafushi prison. Its one thing to use military force to come to power, but guess these are the consequences of all brawn and no brain - every sector of society is affected. No guesses as to how they will be treated in the prison and their mental state on coming out. Where is our humanity?
I'm glad that the HRCM stepped in to free those girls but as it stands this shouldn't have happened in the first place. The societal mind set and assumptions that demand that a girl under 18 should get sent to prison for allegedly trying to fronicate shouldn't exist. This is a very toxic part of our culture that needs to detoxified.
Maafushi prison?? That's a predominantly adult male prison.
This abuse of children and women should be exposed to the world. How shameful that Maldives is being counted with the likes of Afghanistan when it comes to children/women's rights.
Since after 7th February 2012, the day on which police won over the military of this country they are doing as they please!
Riyaz who is in control of the police is living up to his promise to make people fear the police!
And this must be food for their force at Maafushi!
i wonder if the guards have abused those girls...
TOP SECRET: Mordis state has run out of girls to produce child pornography with to send tribute to their taliban masters in the Middle East, and have started kidnapping girls off the street.
Be advised; if you see anyone trying to kidnap little girls... SHOOT THE GUNDAS FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER.
Human Rights team, thank you for chasing the Gender Family and Human Rights Ministry. Please also check in the state of the children's home and see if they are fit for children. More so if the staff are equipped to look after such children. It would be worthwhile to check the laid back attitude of the Ministry staff who are responsible for this institute. I hope HRCM will be able to address these issues in the near future.
I, who live in the West, and I read these things I say poor girls, I hope that in prison are not bad things happened ....do not need the prison as a form of teaching and education ..
http://minivannewsarchive.com/category/news-in-brief
In the 'News In Brief' section, apparently the girls were kept in Unit 1 alongside the other female inmates.
What the hell people? Bad enough that these girls were arrested in the first place, they were also kept in and exposed to the other criminals of society.
Thankfully, they weren't mixed in with the male population but I honestly fear for these girl's future.