Government Sunday vowed to continue its effort to curb human trafficking in the Maldives, with a senior minister highlighting the successful strides the state has made in the three years in office.
During a joint press conference held with several relevant institutions on Sunday, economic minister Mohamed Saeed hailed the recent anti-human trafficking law as the biggest achievement to stop trafficking in the archipelago.
"The first law president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom ratified was anti-human trafficking. That in itself is evidence of the priority we've given to this," Saeed said.
The anti-human trafficking law came into effect in December 2013 made trafficking in persons a criminal offence in the Maldives as the government looked to combat trafficked expats into the archipelago.
The enactment of measures under the law also ensures added protection to trafficked victims.
The law also criminalizes offenses such as forced labour and fraudulent recruitment as acts of human trafficking.
In addition to the law, the government has set-up a hotline which has led to a hike in reports of human trafficking in the country, Saeed added.
"We have to note that quite recently a few people have been sentenced under the anti-human trafficking law. That was a huge boost," the minister said.
Maldives criminal court Tuesday handed 10 year prison sentences to three Bangladeshi men under the landmark anti-human trafficking law.
The three had been charged with trafficking a Bangladesh woman after luring her to the Maldives in December 2013.
