Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) has called on the government to implement six measures to safeguard journalists in the Maldives.

In a press release issued on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, MJA detailed the six measures they wanted the government to implement.

As such, they urged the government to publicly, unequivocally, and systematically condemn violence and attacks, noting that the government, political parties, and media regulatory bodies must respond to any violence against journalists, including sexual and gender-based discrimination and

violence, by making unambiguous public statements that such violations will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be held accountable.

The press release also called on the government for impartial, prompt, thorough, independent, and effective investigations where the government and law enforcement authorities must ensure accountability for all violence, threats, and attacks against journalists through impartial, prompt, thorough,

independent, and effective investigations. Such investigations should recognize and take seriously gender-specific attacks on women journalists.

Further points included a call to prosecute perpetrators, and access to appropriate remedies, and protecting rights online where in the government must ensure that laws and rights that provide protection to journalists offline are applied equally online.

The sixth and final point noted by the association was advancing the safety of journalists, which noted that media organizations and media regulatory bodies must advance the safety of journalists by providing training on safety, risk awareness, digital security, and self-protection.

MJA further acknowledged the effort by the government over the past few years to investigate Minivan News journalist Rilwan Abdullah’s death and bring forth charges. However, the very fact that multiple accused in Rilwan’s case has not been brought to justice is an indication that journalists are not safeguarded within society.

"Likewise, MJA believes that the Government’s failure to conduct proper investigations and bring blogger Yameen Rasheed’s murderers to justice gives leeway to such crimes," the statement read.

MJA’s President Ali Rifshan stated that “journalists in the Maldives continue to face harassment and threats. There is no focus on safeguarding journalists in the Maldives. There is no sense of justice for crimes against journalists in this country; no journalist here feels safe in their field. The Maldives has a long way to go to safeguard journalists. MJA calls on the Government to heed our appeal and work together to implement these measures to safeguard journalists in the Maldives”.