The cabinet has passed the Maldives National Anti-Human Trafficking Action Plan 2020–2022.
The plan was formulated by the National Anti-Human Trafficking Steering Committee (NAHTSC), chaired by the Ministry of Defence since December 1, 2019, in consultation with relevant local and international stakeholders. The plan, which comes into effect on March 30, 2020 and ends on December 31, 2022, aims to accelerate the elimination of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in Maldives.
Under the plan, several key initiatives would be executed; conducting a baseline study to gauge the TIP situation in the Maldives, revising the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA) to align the definition of human trafficking with that of the 2000 United Nations TIP Protocol, streamlining NAHTSC’s functions, setting up a dedicated TIP office and setting up of a toll-free hotline to report suspected TIP offenders and victims.
The plan also aims to increase monitoring, screening, investigation, prosecution and conviction of all forms of trafficking and conduct anti-TIP workshops for law enforcement, immigration officials, prosecutors, judges and social service providers. The plan will also initiate annual celebrations of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30) in Maldives for the first time.