An amendment has been filed to bring changes to the state committee on human trafficking.

The amendment to Article 60-B of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act; which states that a committee of 14 members need to be established to address the issue, was filed by the MP for Hinnavaru constituency, Jeehan Mahmood.

As it currently stands, the committee currently consist of:

  • A member of Parliament
  • A Supreme Court Judge
  • A member of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives
  • An employee of a state Ministry
  • An attorney from the Attorney General’s Office
  • A prosecutor from the Prosecutor General’s Office
  • An employ of the Department of Immigration selected by the Controller of Immigration
  • An employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • An officer of the Maldives Police Service
  • An officer of the Maldives Customs Service
  • An employee of a Labor Relations Authority
  • An employee from the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • An employee from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs
  • A member from an independent organization working against human trafficking

MP Jeehan said that the purpose of the amendment to the Act is to address the lack of meetings of the committee and its effect on those who require consults from the committee, address the issue of not meeting the quorum for the meetings and improve the overall structure of the committee.

The new amendment reduces the number of members of the committee to eight and consists of:

  • An employee from a state Ministry
  • An attorney from the Attorney General’s Office
  • An employ of the Department of Immigration selected by the Controller of Immigration
  • An officer of the Maldives Police Service
  • An employee of a Labor Relations Authority
  • An employee from the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • A member from an independent organization working against human trafficking