The Juvenile Justice Conference has concluded with the release of a publication featuring research on the juvenile justice system in the Maldives.
The conference, organised by the Prosecutor General's Office, began on 10 May this year. The conference was held over three days, bringing together key stakeholders to identify the challenges in implementing juvenile justice and to explore comprehensive solutions.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Prosecutor General Aishath Mohamed said the primary purpose of the conference was to identify the obstacles within the system and to propose effective reforms. She noted that scientific papers on a wide range of topics had been prepared prior to the conference, and the discussions and information exchanged during the conference were based on these studies.
According to Aishath Mohamed, the conference’s first day focused on technical discussions exploring the pathways leading children into crime, and measures to prevent them. Strategies on rehabilitating juvenile offenders back into society were also discussed, she said.
The Deputy Prosecutor General highlighted that the book ‘Multi Institutional Research into Juvenile Justice’ includes research papers, marking the first time such a volume has been produced in the Maldives on juvenile justice.
Speaking at the ceremony, Public Prosecutor Almaas Mubaarik said the conference addressed various topics related to the juvenile justice system and generated a number of practical proposals. She emphasised the importance of raising awareness among children and parents, as well as providing vocational training through the school curriculum to prevent youth involvement in crime.
"Mediation and family conferences between the child and the individual who influenced them towards crime are not practised in the Maldives. Such approaches facilitate the child's reintegration into society before custody,” Almaas explained.
The conference was attended by representatives from the Prosecutor's Office, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Maldives Police Service, Ministry of Social and Family Development, higher education institutions, and other relevant agencies.