The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has revealed that only three out of 41 torture cases referred for prosecution since the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act in 2014 have led to formal charges.

The figures were shared during a recent briefing to Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, where the Commission presented its findings from the 2023 and 2024 anti-torture reports. HRCM Vice President Moomina Waheed expressed concern over the low prosecution rate, noting that the majority of cases forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office had not been pursued.

According to Moomina, the Commission had formally requested a meeting with the current Prosecutor General to address the matter. She explained that previous discussions revealed legal inconsistencies, particularly between the Anti-Torture Act and other existing laws, that contributed to decisions not to proceed with charges. In many cases, the Prosecutor General’s Office recommended administrative reforms but declined prosecution.

To address these gaps, Moomina emphasised the need to revise the legal framework. She confirmed that the HRCM is in ongoing discussions with the Attorney General’s Office to explore possible amendments to the Act.

The 2024 report, covering June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, recorded 126 cases, with 185 investigations initiated and 122 concluded.

Enacted to prohibit torture and protect human dignity, the Anti-Torture Act has not been amended since its introduction more than a decade ago.