Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has revealed efforts of the cabinet to establish a facility designated to rehabilitate juveniles exposed to the criminal environment.
During a media address, Minister Ali Ihusaan observed the incompletion of the necessary systems and amendments to the law required to establish rehabilitation centres and special institutes for juvenile law-offenders under the Juvenile Justice Act. The minister commemorated President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's commitment of developing a special facility to treat children with a criminal background and those with moral concerns in an isolated manner. Highlighting the ongoing efforts to amend the law, he further announced that the government has selectively determined an island to address such issues.
Noting the alarming number of minor criminals exceeding 200, Minister Ihusaan emphasized the necessity of establishing a facility to conduct rehabilitation programs for them. The minister explained that such children can only be taken into custody following a court order, and that a facility providing rehabilitation programmes to treat them would be necessary to improve their moral values. Additionally, he highlighted that the establishment of a long-term residential care facility was mandatory as per the Juvenile Justice Act.
Furthermore, Minister Ihusaan unveiled plans of the government to provide guidance to the children taken into custody, until they reach the legal age of 18 years. He emphasised the various programs that will be conducted during the rehabilitation period including religious programmes, the provision of essential education dependent of age, skill development, psycho -social intervention programmes and customised intervention programmes in addition to the treatment given to improve their moral values.
The development of a rehabilitation facility specialised for juveniles being a vision of President Dr. Muizzu, Minister Ihusaan stated that the decision has been approved by the social council and has been proposed to the cabinet as well. The minister declared that the establishment of the facility would prove to be advantageous and would provide a viable resolution to the issue.