Pres. extends term of the Ombudsperson's Office for Transitional Justice

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has extended the term of the Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice.

In a press release on Thursday, the President’s Office revealed that the president extended the term of the office until 17 November 2023.

The office was established under Section 4(a) of the Transitional Justice Act and as per Section 5(c) of the act, the two-year term of the office is set to expire on December 17, this year.

The decision by President Solih to extend the term came upon the request to allow additional time to complete investigations into the cases filed at the office.

Abdul Salam Arif serves as the Chief Ombudsperson at the Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice, with Jihadha Anees and Mustafa Hameed serving as Ombudspersons.

President Solih ratified the Transitional Justice Act on 17 December 2020. Following the ratification, the Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice was established.

The Transitional Justice Bill was passed on the floor of the People's Majlis at the 23rd meeting of the third Parliament Session held on 29 November 2020.

The Transitional Justice Act provides a legal framework to review and investigate cases in which high-ranking leaders in government institutions, authorities and other parties have infringed upon the essential rights and freedoms afforded to Maldivian citizens in the Constitution, between 1 January 1953 and 17 November 2018. The Act ensures transitional justice is afforded to citizens who have been harmed as such in any way, irrespective of changes in the government.

A key goal of the Transitional Justice Act is to end the prevailing culture of impunity for state officials and heads of agencies in the government and related institutions, by strengthening the rule of law and allowing for the implementation of democratic governance.

The Transitional Justice act focuses on strengthening the review process for cases that infringe upon the rights and freedoms of citizens by reinforcing accountability mechanisms and providing a legal framework through which reparations can be provided for victims who have suffered abuse of authority.

The Ombudsperson's Office is an independent legal entity afforded with the powers to communicate, file lawsuits and receive court charges in cases of human rights violations by those who hold high-ranking positions in the government and related institutions between 1 January 1953 and 17 November 2018.