President Solih ratifies Transitional Justice Act

The Transitional Justice Act has been ratified.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the act on Thursday, upon which it has been publicized in the government gazette.

The People’s Majlis approved the Transitional Justice Bill during its 23rd sitting of the third parliament session on November 29, with an amendment authorizing investigations into human rights violations by state officials in the government and its related institutions.

The act sanctions investigations into human rights violations and wrongdoings of the past by heads of agencies and those in power, dated between January 1, 1953 to November 17, 2018.

The Transitional Justice Act aims to end the culture of impunity and strengthen the rule of law in turn enhancing democratic governance and will focus around strengthening accountability mechanisms, providing a framework for redress and reparations for victims of abuse of authority.

The act also highlights measures to avoid abuse of authority in the future.

Following the ratification of the act, an Ombudsperson's Office tasked with overseeing transitional justice related measures has also been established.

The independent legal identity is vested with powers to communicate, file a lawsuit or receive court charges in such cases of human rights violations. The Transitional Justice Act will provide details on the authority and functions delegated to the Ombudsperson’s Office and enlightens that the office must carry out functions in complete independency under the purposes stipulated in the law without influence and prejudice.

Under the numbering system for state agencies, it is mandated to use the number 486 in all official letters addressed to the Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice.

Three ombudsmen are to be appointed to the office, by the president.

The state-endorsed Transitional Justice bill was proposed by central-Hithadhoo constituency MP Ahmed Rasheed back in October 2019.