The Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) came into effect on Friday, establishing a juvenile justice system separate from the criminal justice system.
It was signed into law a year ago, along with the Child Rights Protection Act.
The Juvenile Justice Act outlines the rights of children and adolescents coming in conflict with the law, or immersed in cycles of violence, juvenile delinquency and means to prevent juvenile delinquencies.
It also prescribes a swift resolution to allow reforming juvenile delinquents into productive members of society through rehabilitative facilities.
The bill directs the constitution of a Department of Juvenile Justice as a government entity with its own set mandate; a specialised police department to address juvenile delinquencies; designated State Prosecutors for children; a particular unit of probation and correctional officers; a juvenile diversion programme; rehabilitation programmes; and residential facilities and correctional centres.
According to Act, all children under the age of 15 are protected from being penalized under the criminal justice system.
Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath stressed that the Act will introduce “Diversion Mechanisms” for early intervention to prevent offending, rehabilitate and reintegrate children in conflict with the law.
Noting that JJA requires cases concerning children in conflict with the law to be held in “child-friendly settings,” he said that the Act has the “necessary safeguards to ensure protection of the rights of a child accused of an offence”.
“Institutional prioritisation and consideration of best interests of the child, through clear and better-defined legal alternatives to prosecution, considering gravity of the accusation, educational, social & other resources before penalising a child in conflict with the law”Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath
The Juvenile Justice Bill was approved by the People’s Majlis on November 14, 2019.
The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) said that this signaled “great progress” in the protection of the rights of children.
Speaking on the occasion on World Children's Day on Friday, Vice President Faisal Naseem said the government remains committed to ensuring that "every child in the Maldives can grow up safe, with their heads held high, and with bright prospects".
