MP Adam Shareef accuses govt. of gross negligence in sexual assault cases

Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar has accused the government of gross negligence in dealing with cases involving sexual violence, and of failure to take sufficient action to protect victims of sexual violence.

A resolution was submitted to the Parliament by Shareef in the light of the increased sexual assault and rape cases in the Maldives. The first reading of the resolution was held last April.

The second reading of the resolution was held at today’s Parliament sitting, during which Shareef stated that perpetrators in sexual assault and rape cases usually go unpunished within the current system and that more needs to be done to ensure that these perpetrators do not walk free.

Shareef also added that such circumstances have been observed in the current administration as well, and that the government is grossly negligent when it comes to sexual assault cases.

“In many of the assault cases, we see the perpetrators easily walking away free and living their best lives off of government’s resources and incentives. This is as the government fails to take these cases seriously consequent to which no constructive action is taken against perpetrators in order to punish them,” he said.

Shareef further added that he does not see the government working adequately to ensure justice for victims of sexual assault.

Shareef said that though numerous cases involving sexual assault have been submitted to the Parliament, and though parliamentary committees have conducted inquiries into such cases, the government continues to fail to show sufficient progress in constructively dealing with such cases.