President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has today officially inaugurated the Juvenile Halfway House (Children's Residential Treatment Centre) in Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has today officially inaugurated the Juvenile Halfway House (Children's Residential Treatment Centre) in Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi.
As per the Juvenile Justice Act, children at risk of crime, and children involved in crime have to be institutionalized and provided treatment. However, two such centres remain not in use even as the law hits its six year mark.
The previous administration, led by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, established a residential treatment centre in Dhaalu atoll Kudahuvadhoo and halfway house in Haa Alif atoll Hoarafushi.
However, last year the government decided to use the centre in Hoarafushi as a residential treatment centre due to the conditions the Kudahuvadhoo facility is in.
On his ongoing official trip to Haa Alif atoll, the President visited Hoarafushi today, where he inaugurated the halfway house.
The President was accompanied by Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan, and the ministry's Deputy Minister Ahmed Siddeeq.
The centre has separate blocks to accommodate girls and boys.
In an earlier press conference, Minister Ihusan has said that after residential treatment, the children will need to be transferred to a halfway house. He said that the first phase will need to be completed before moving to the second stage.
He said that upon commencement of services at the centre, children most at risk will be housed there and offered rehabilitation. At the time, he said that the list has approximately 200 children.
The government has also decided to establish a 'long-term residential care facility' where children will be under care until the age of 18.
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