The Presidential Commission formed to investigate child abuse cases have said that they have launched an investigation into the failures by state institutes in regards to cases involving children.

A statement issued by the commission said that they are auditing the files of child abuse cases at the Maldives Police Service and the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services.

The statement said that they are also reviewing the relevant laws to evaluate the level of protection for the rights of children.

The Commission is also evaluating the facilities for the children in the custody of the state and have been visiting five orphanages since March to study the treatment and care for the children at the facilities.

The statement by the Commission said that a preliminary report on the state of the orphanages and the things to be corrected was presented to the President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 26 March 2020. And the Gender Ministry has prepared a plan to carry out the recommendations and proceeding with it.

The preliminary report also includes recommendations for correctional facilities including 11 recommendations for Dhoonidhoo custodial and Atholhuvehi custodial and 13 recommendations for Asseyri Jail according to the Commission.

They had also shared concerns with the safety and security of the children in the care of the state in a meeting with the President last month.