President ratifies amendments to several acts

A number of amendments to several acts have been ratified.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified amendments to four acts; the Audit Act, Human Rights Commission Act, Criminal Procedure Act and the Special Act to Ensure Enforcement of Decentralization Act on Tuesday.

As such, the second amendment to the Audit Act (Act No: 4/2007) aims to ensure that the Auditor General can independently carry out their responsibilities while implementing safeguards against undue influence that could compromise the integrity or impartiality of the office.

Further, the amendment highlights ethical guidelines that must be adhered to by the Auditor General in order to prevent the misuse of power for personal benefits.

The ratified amendment prohibits the Auditor General from serving in other institutions and taking up other employment opportunities during their term in office.

The Auditor General will also be banned from engaging in activities that could result in a conflict of interest.

The second amendment to the Human Rights Commission Act (Act No: 6/2006) mandates members of the commission to abide by ethical guidelines highlighted in the amendment.

Further, it ensures HRCM members do not unduly benefit from their official power, or exercise undue influence.

All appointed members will be mandated to declare their assets under the amended act, which also places added safeguards to prevent corruption within the commission.

The third amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act (Law No. 12/2016) aims to address obstacles that prevent the effective enforcement of the Criminal Procedure Act, by adding additional enforcement mechanisms to the main Act.

In addition, the amendment includes new provisions including the description of rape and sexual abuse of children as serious criminal offences.

The first amendment to the Special Act to Ensure Enforcement of the Decentralization Act of Maldives, Law no.5/2020 adds three new provisions under Section 7 of the act which provides guidelines describing the manner in which the president and vice president of the Local Government Authority (LGA) should be elected.

In accordance with the amendment, the LGA president will be held answerable to the People’s Majlis on matters related to the authority.

Amendments to all four acts were passed by the People’s Majlis during the 33rd sitting of its second session, on September 6.

Following ratification, the amendments to the acts have been publicized in the government gazette.