Human rights watchdog closed 308 cases in 2020

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) closed 308 cases related to its mandate in 2020, according to the annual report of the Commission issued today. 

The report showed that the HRCM took it upon itself to investigate 157 cases while 510 cases were submitted to the Commission by other individuals and parties. Out of the cases, 627 were registered, which is an increase of 69 cases. 

The majority of the cases lodged with the Commission in 2020 involved rights violations and healthcare violations in prison. 

Cases lodged with the HRCM in 2020: 

• Medical care: 141 cases
• Family and child rights: 15 cases
• Right to Education: 3 cases
• Cases related to elderly individuals: 15 cases
• Gross abuse of human rights: 54 cases
• Housing: 16 cases
• Rights related to handicapped and disabled people: 11 cases
• Socio-economic rights: 56 cases
• Right to employment: 102 cases
• Legal and Judiciary: 32 cases
• Rights of inmates: 90 cases
• Remand of prisoners: 35 cases

According to the report, 308 cases were closed by the HRCM including 195 cases submitted in 2020, 99 cases submitted in 2019, 12 cases submitted in 2018, and one case submitted in 2017 and 2015 each. 

62 cases closed by the Commission last year were resolved while 66 cases were determined to be not a violation of human rights. 

The current number of cases under investigation are 557. This includes unresolved cases of 2019 and 2020. 

In a press conference held regarding the release of the report, HRCM member Dr. Ahmed Adhuham Abdulla said that a 53 percent increase in rights of violations related to children was observed in 2020 when compared with 2019. An increase of 205 percent was observed regarding employment-related cases while a 61 percent rise was observed in expatriate-related matters.

An increase of 211 was observed in socio-economic cases as well as a 257 percent increase in cases related to the judiciary. Dr. Adhuham added that cases related to elderly individuals had declined in 2020.

He stated that work was underway to formulate the strategic action plan of the HRCM which will be based on systematic reforms, forming the HRCM into a regional Human Rights Institution and achieving organizational excellence.