Concerns over shortcomings in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act have been submitted to Parliament, with a request for relevant authorities to be questioned on the issue.
In a letter to Parliament, Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) highlighted what he described as significant gaps in the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Among the concerns raised was the failure to fully establish juvenile detention and rehabilitation centres in line with the requirements of the law. As a result, he said, there is no adequate environment to accommodate children who commit offences.
The letter also stated that diversion programmes, which are intended to rehabilitate children without taking them through the court system, have not been implemented on a sufficient scale across the country.
MP Mohamed further pointed to delays in training specialized police officers, prosecutors and judges to handle juvenile cases, as well as a shortage of probation officers and social workers needed to supervise children.
He also noted that children accused of serious offences are being held in custody for extended periods because of the lack of rehabilitation facilities, despite the law requiring detention to be used only as a measure of last resort.
The letter said the increase in the age of criminal responsibility to 15 has created administrative and legal challenges in dealing with offences committed by younger children, leaving gaps in the provision of appropriate corrective measures.
It also highlighted delays in information-sharing and coordination between agencies involved in the juvenile justice system, arguing that such shortcomings undermine law enforcement. Mohamed said tackling juvenile crime also requires stronger action against adults who exploit children to commit offences.
According to the letter, although the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Juvenile Court have been established under the law, they have not been provided with adequate funding or resources.
MP Mohamed also said there are inconsistencies between the Juvenile Justice Act and other legislation.
He requested that officials from the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology, the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies appear before Parliament's Human Rights and Gender Committee to answer questions on the matter.
Debate over the juvenile justice system has intensified in recent weeks following an incident in Haa Alifu Hoarafushi in which children left a halfway house, assaulted a man and abandoned him in a vacant house. Police have also recently expressed concern over an increasing number of children being seen in areas associated with criminal gangs.
