Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) in their annual report of 2017 has confirmed the highest number of cases submitted to the rights body relates to prisoner rights.
The report indicates a total 76 distinct cases related to prisoner rights were presented to the commission during last year. The report also shows a total of 365 cases under 14 different categories were presented to the independent rights body.
Cases involving prisoner rights contributes to 20% of all cases handled by the commission last year.
Second highest submitted cases were also related to prisoners. A total of 69 cases relating to health conditions of prisoners were presented to HRCM while another 34 cases related to detainees were lodged at the commission as well.
HRCM had met with both Maldives Police Service and Corrections Service with regards to the significant cases related to prisoners in order to identify the origins of such issues and discuss on various approaches to efficiently counter them.
Cases related to child abuse reported last year reached 40, while it is a significant drop in past years it is still one of the highest reported issue in 2017. Forty-five cases were associated with inhumane treatment while 29 cases related to legislation or law were presented.
HRCM confirmed in their report they had completed 74.2% of cases lodged to the commission last year - with 271 cases concluded. Furthermore the commission had managed to complete a total of 576 cases by 2017.
