Category Archives: NGO Action

Haveeru Online wrote:

A rally was held in Malé on Saturday to protest against the increasing number of child abuse cases in the country and to demand stricter penalties for child abusers. A petition was signed by the participants and President Mohamed Nasheed also participated in the march.

During the rally, organized by several NGOs, the participants called on the People’s Majlis to establish a legal system in which child abusers would be given harsher penalties.

Around 500 people participated in the march which began near the Social Centre and ended at the Artificial Beach area. Protesters carried placards and posters with slogans calling for an end to child abuse.

Several prominent figures such as Dr Aminath Jameel of the Health and Family Mininstry, some MPs, and President of the Human Rights Commission Ahmed Saleem also participated in the march. The participants marched through Majeedhee Magu and ended it at the Artificial Beach, where a gathering was held.

Speaking at the gathering, President Mohamed Nasheed said that child abuse was on the rise not only because of lack of laws and regulations but also due to lack of qualified judges who could more adequately interpret the existing laws. He also said that the increase in reported cases of child abuse recently was due to public awareness and readiness to discuss the issue.

Minivan News reports:

An eight-year-old boy was sexually and physically abused by the driver of a van which the boy was washing, on Haa Alifu atoll Hoarafushi, according to several sources.
A group of three islanders saw the van in an empty parking lot and found the boy being assaulted by Hussain Naseer, 21, said Ibrahim Adam, a local mechanic from Hoarafushi.
Police say they were informed by the victim’s family and Naseer was taken to into custody for questioning.

Ilyas Ibrahim, Hoarafushi assistant island police chief, said the suspect was being held at Dhidhdhoo island police station.

Upon hearing about the incident, Ibrahim and a group of around 50 people, composed of leaders from local associations and local youth, organised an awareness march which will take place tomorrow.

“[We will start] in front of island office… we will walk with different types of slogans and stop at places and raise our voice against the crime,” said Ibrahim, speaking to Minivan news today.
Although the boy had no relation to Nasseer, the owner of the van is friends with the boy’s uncle, and provided the family with financial support.

He added that the boy and his three older siblings had been born out of wedlock, and their mother left them earlier this year to live on Villingili island.

Tomorrow’s march will end at the jetty area where different people including government officials and youth will give speeches.

Full report

Haveeru DATE: 2009-04-09

A group of people gathered outside the house of a man who was convicted of sexually abusing several young children some years ago, protesting against the fact that the man was tutoring children at his house.

Jennifer Latheef, leading activist of a group named “Noor” which tries to create awareness about relevant issues in the country, said that the objective of the protest was to show how serious the crime that he had committed was and to create awareness among parents about the dangers of sending their children to such a man.

She said that around twenty members of the group would gather outside the house of the former school teacher for two hours every day for a week. The pedophile had served his sentence after being found guilty by the Court and had started a tuition class for children once he was released.

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A petition to be sent to parliament saying that the punishment for the child sex abuse offenders are too lenient and which calls the Parliament to increase the punishment, had gained 600 signatures. The petition is organized by the “Noor”.

Jenifer Latheef one of the organizers says that while the number of cases had been increasing the punishment for the heinous crime is far too lenient. She also said there are concerns among the public on the lack of legal protection available for the children and current drafts states 15 years as the punishment for the crime, which she says is too lenient. She said that any Maldivian who is above 18 years old can sign the petition.

The petition which began last Tuesday had already gained 600 signatures. The petition is open for the entire Maldives; however, signatures are only being gathered in capital Male at this moment. Petition is being sent to other islands and will also be sent schools, business entities and resorts.

Full article here