The Mohamed Muizzu administration has announced its decision to establish a rehabilitation centre to provide specialised care and support for at-risk children affected by crime and juvenile delinquents. The announcement was made in a statement released by the President’s Office.
The proposed rehabilitation centre, as outlined in a paper submitted to the cabinet by the Homeland Security Ministry, envisions a “long-term residential care facility,” the President’s Office said.
“The facility would provide specialised treatment and unwavering support to children at risk of being subjected to juvenile delinquency and those with varying circumstances leading to juvenile delinquency,” the statement reads. The proposed facility will be established on an uninhabited island.
According to the President’s Office, the Homeland Security Ministry’s paper also includes a detailed outline of recommended facilities and programmes that should be implemented within the proposed centre.
Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan previously announced the government’s commitment to establishing a dedicated rehabilitation centre for juvenile offenders. Minors admitted to the facility can enlist in either the Maldives Police Service (MPS) or the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) once they turn 18, according to Minister Ihusaan. The children will be reintegrated into society following their rehabilitation, he added.
