Gender minister defends decision to take action against media outlets

Following criticism over actions taken against media outlets, Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi has said that this was not done to penalize media but that it was something they were lawfully obligated to do.

Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services on Thursday fined Avas Online and issued warnings to three others –One Online, Vaguthu and Adhadhu– over their reporting on the murder of a minor.

Maldives Media Council (MMC), Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom) and the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) have expressed concern over the ministry’s decision to arbitrarily act as a media regulator when the country’s laws ‘clearly stipulate the mandate for media regulations and which institutions have the power to regulate the media’.

MMC noted that the gender ministry had failed to discuss the issue with it prior to taking actions against the media outlets, despite the law stipulating that the power to regulate publications falls on MMC.

In its statement announcing action against media outlets, the gender ministry said that Avas Online was fined MV 2,000 under Article 18 (b) (1) of the Child Rights Protection Act while the remaining three were issued warning as per Article 18 (b) (2). Action was taken under Articles 10 (a), 33 and 53.

In an interview to RaajjeTV on Thursday night, Gender Minister Aishath said that the Child Rights Protection Act approved in 2019 which came into effect in February 2020 ‘clearly states the rights of children under the law’. She added that the Maldivian Constitution and the international conventions that the country is party to gives every child the right to protection.

The minister also stressed that the current Child Rights Protection Act differs from the previous one as it was established for the sole purpose of protecting the rights of children.

Noting that action was taken against media outlets for violating Articles 10 and 33 of the Act, Aishath stressed that the Child Rights Protection Act gives the gender minister the power to take action against outlets found in violation, as per Article 53.

The minister said that the action was not for publicizing the victim’s name as this was already public, but for content belittling and blaming him.

Further noting that they are still reviewing some of the reports that came out following the abduction and murder, Minister Aishath emphasized that the purpose of taking action was to ensure child rights protection.

The minister added that this Act is published in the government gazette as approved by the Attorney General, stressing the importance of raising media awareness of children's rights issues.

MJA, who recently resumed work after years remaining inactive and this week became a member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), said that “the government’s use of its powers to directly and unilaterally act as a media regulator, without following due process, including launching an investigation and offering media outlets the opportunity to respond to the complaints” could have adverse effects on press freedom.