The Cabinet on Tuesday passed the Maldives National Anti-Human Trafficking Action Plan 2020–2020. The President’s Office said the plan was formulated by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Steering Committee (NAHTSC), chaired by the Ministry of Defense since 1 December 2019, in consultation with relevant local and international stakeholders.
The President’s Office further said the plan, which comes into effect on 30 March 2020 and ends on 31 December 2022, aims to accelerate the elimination of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in the Maldives.
According to President’s Office, under the plan, several key initiatives would be executed; conducting a baseline study to gauge the TIP situation in the Maldives; revising the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA) to align the definition of human trafficking with that of the 2000 United Nations TIP Protocol; streamlining NAHTSC’s functions; setting up a dedicated TIP office; and setting up of a toll-free hotline to report suspected TIP offenders and victims.
The plan also aims to increase monitoring, screening, investigation, prosecution and conviction of all forms of trafficking and conduct anti-TIP workshops for law enforcement, immigration officials, prosecutors, judges and social service providers. The plan will also initiate annual celebrations of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (30 July) in the Maldives for the first time, added the President’s Office.
