One In Seven Children of Secondary School Age In The Maldives, Sexually Abused By Hawwa Lubna | June 14th, 2012

Almost one in seven children of secondary school age in the Maldives has been se xually abused at some time in their lives, according to an unpublished 2009 stud y on violence against children. Gut-wrenching details of heinous child sexual abuse cases grabbing headlines in the past few years eventually gathered enough public pressure in the Maldive for the authorities to pass a law stipulating stringent punishments for sexual pred ators. Since the passage of Stringent Punishments for Perpetrators of Sexual Violence Ag ainst Children Act in 2009, several paedophiles have been incarcerated for 10 to 20 years of life. According to Prosecutor General Office (PGO), 46 cases of sexually abusing a min or were submitted to the courts in 2011. In 2010, 35 cases were submitted. The y ear before, 41 cases. Some high profile cases make headlines but often cases go under-reported. With n o public statistics on the number of incarcerations, the total figures on how ma ny cases are successfully prosecuted and who has been put behind bars are unknow n. Yet, more cases are being reported and investigated. In 2010, the magistrate court on Ungoofaaru island alone convicted eight people in relation to 10 different child abuse cases from Raa Atoll. Among them were fa thers who raped their daughters, a mother who hid her husbands sexually deviant c rimes, and men who abused little boys no older than 10. Do you know who they are? No but it is definitely your legal right to know. Article 77 of the aforementioned legislation not only obligates the authorities to publicise the identity of the offenders convicted under the law, but also te lls the authorities to create a website through which the can public know who th e sexual offenders are. Were the system stated in law to be established, people can even retrieve inform ation on sex offenders by sending a text. Almost four year after the law has bee n passed, the Gender Department says the system is still under maintenance. According to Police Sergeant Abdul Jaleel fromt the police Family and Children P rotection Department (FCPD), discussions are underway between the authorities to create the database of offenders. He admitted, the delays are unfortunate and we need to make it a priority issue. Stressing on the importance of such a database, Jaleed recalled an incident in M eemu Atoll where a man who had a record of child abuse was found to have committ ed the same crime against another child. This man was banished to an island onto an island in Meemu Atoll. When we were in vestigating a child abuse case in 2009, we found that this man was responsible a nd he even had a previous record of abusing children. Jaleel noted. But the island ers did not know that. He noted that the dispersion of the 300,000-strong population over 190 islands m ade it easier for perpetrators to switch islands, and blend in among people unaw

are of their crimes. Therefore, a central website where sex offenders can be tracked, monitored and pu blic can find about the convicted offenders is crucial to safeguard children and adults from such perpetrators. Sergeant Jaleel observed. It would also definitely expedite our investigations with better coordination bet ween authorities on different islands. Several countries worldwide have adopted such measures. For example, the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) in the US, provide s not only an opportunity for several states to participate in an unprecedented public safety resource by sharing public sex offender data nationwide, but prov ides a platform for parents and authorities to collaborate for the safety of bot h adults and children. However, often arguments are taken against such public registries as it may be d efamatory and makes life difficult for a person identified as a sexual predator. Jaleel agreed that the idea of a public sex offenders registry is new to the Mal dives and may face similar challenges. However, he argued that legislation can be made clarifying who can be included o r not depending on the magnitude of the crime. If we look at domestic violence ca ses, the perpetrators name can be avoided depending on whether it was first offen ce or the matter is solved if its between a couple. But in heinous crimes such as sexually abusing a child, there should be no excuse s, he contended. And repeat offenders must be made public too. He also said provisions can be made whereby police or authorities can decide to release a name of a person not convicted for the sexual offence, should they hav e reason and substantial evidence to believe the person is a threat to society. Aishath Ibrahim, the mother of a five year old working as a teacher in Male says, It will be very easy for parents to identify potential threats and protect our c hildren if we can know who the offenders are. Today we dont even know who is our neighbor, she added. In the crowded capital Male, people live closely together in rented housing or sh ared apartments within large family units, a factor that has been identified as contributing to instances of child sexual abuse. http://minivannews.com/politics/one-in-seven-children-of-secondary-school-age-su ffered-sexual-abuse-in-the-maldives-39063 -----------