“Alarming” level of child abuse, neglect prompt Gender Ministry to push for guardianship amendment
08 Apr 2013, 6:35 PM
Minivan News
Children’s neglect and abuse have increased to an “alarming level”, compelling the the Maldives’ Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights to submit an amendment that would transfer parental guardianship of children in cases of negligence.
The Ministry submitted the amendment to the president’s office Sunday (April 7), which would allow for strict legal action to be taken against neglectful parents, and guardianship to be transferred within the principles of Islamic Shari’a, according to local media.
Acting Gender Minister, Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor, said 59 cases of child sexual abuse were reported to the Gender Ministry in March and 37 of the abused children were transferred into state care.
She urged politicians and journalists to give more attention to the problem since “cases of neglect and abuse of children have increased to an alarming level”.
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