Parliament's committee on human rights and gender has instructed the relevant authorities to re-investigate a child-sexual abuse case involving several young girls.
The decision was reached at Sunday's committee meeting, where its chairperson Jeehan Mahmood discussed a child-sexual abuse case that came to light after one victim’s facebook post went viral on social media.
She noted that the post uploaded by the woman on 3rd October disclosed a number of young children were subjected to sexual abuse by a Quran teacher, adding that the potential for more children to become victimized "still exists."
The Hinnavaru constituency MP stated that a miscarriage of justice is apparent in the case, given that the Magistrate Court had ruled that there was not enough evidence against the perpetrator.
Noting that the appeal process is yet to be completed, Jeehan said that the committee can urge the Prosecutor General's Office to do so.
Furthermore, she noted that all relevant institutions have been asked to check on the latest updates in the case, and to re-investigate the case.
The committee requests Maldives Police Service, Gender Ministry, Family Protection Authority, and HRCM to re-investigate the case as carefully and quickly as possible and work to appeal the case. Furthermore, the relevant authorities must provide victims with the necessary protection, security, treatment and any other help required by the victims or their families.MP Jeehan Mahmood
All institutions have been told to send in a written response within one week, after re-investigating the case.
MP Jeehan further noted that the aim of the committee is to achieve justice for the victims.
