Minivan News 13 May 2009:

The Human Rights Commission Maldives (HRCM) held a national consultation on women and child trafficking yesterday at its offices.

The objective of the consultation was to prepare a paper to review the SAARC Convention on Prevention and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution.

The meting was held jointly with the International Organisation for Migration in Bangladesh with assistance from the Asian Development Bank.

At the opening ceremony, HRCM President Ahmed Saleem and Mazeena Jameel, permanent secretary of the ministry of health and family, both made statements regarding the role and current status of trafficking in the Maldives.

Representatives from the ministry, as well as from the ministry of foreign affairs, the Maldives Police Services, UNICEF, the department of immigration and emigration, and NGO Child Abuse Watch Maldives attended.