The People’s Majlis (Parliament) passed an Anti Human Trafficking Bill today, making trafficking in persons a criminal offence in the Republic of Maldives. The enactment of measures enshrined in the bill ensures added protection for the victims of trafficking. Once the bill is enacted, perpetrators who are convicted of trafficking will face 10 to 15 year jail sentences. The bill also criminalizes offenses such as forced labour and fraudulent recruitment practices and labels them as acts of human trafficking. Her Excellency Dunya Maumoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Maldives, noted the passing of the bill by Parliament as important, not only to prevent and combat human trafficking in the Maldives, but also to bring justice for trafficked persons. She stated that “we believe that these severe penalties will serve as a deterrent to potential perpetrators.”
Given both domestic and international commitments, the issue of trafficking in persons is a grave concern for the Government of the Maldives. As a member of the Human Rights Council, the Government has always advocated for stringent measures to curb actions that encroach upon human dignity. Recently, the Department of Immigration and Emigration also advised local employers that actions which hinder an employee’s movement, especially the confiscation of a national’s passport, would not be tolerated by the Maldivian Government.
Minister Dunya noted that these strict measures would be a positive step in Government’s efforts to curb the difficulties faced by migrant workers in the country. The Minister also emphasized that some migrant workers in the Maldives face substandard working conditions and may be victims of human trafficking. She stressed the need for strong intelligence sharing and border control mechanisms to prevent human trafficking.
