One human rights complaint a day in 2017

Some 365 complaints concerning rights violations were lodged with the Human Rights Commission of Maldives last year.

The most common complaint involved alleged abuses in prisons with 76 cases on the rights of inmates and 69 health-related complaints from inmates, according to the watchdog’s 2017 annual report released Tuesday.

Other complaints included 45 cases of torture or inhumane treatment, 40 cases concerning child rights, 34 cases from detainees, and 29 cases involving the judiciary.

Of the 365 complaints, the HRCM concluded investigations and wrapped up 74 percent of the cases. During 2017, the watchdog closed a total of 576 cases, including one case dating back to 2009.

Probes are ongoing in 173 cases filed between 2012 and 2017.

Since the current commissioners took office, the five-member commission has been persistently criticised as toothless and negligent in the face of an authoritarian reversal.

Earlier this week, the commission accused police of using disproportionate force in some instances to disperse daily opposition demonstrations since February 1.

The HRCM is mandated by the 2013 Anti-Torture Act to investigate allegations of torture and publish an annual report on its findings. The first report was published in 2015.

In August 2016, the watchdog cleared police officers and prison guards of torture claims in the 65 cases it investigated.