Bill on Amendment to Child Protection Act, returned by President, sent to committee for revision

The Bill on Amendment to the Child Protection Act, which was returned to the parliament by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom today, has been sent to the Parliament Social Affairs Committee for revision.

The motion to send the bill to the committee was voted in favour by 58 MPs at today’s parliament sitting, while one MP abstained.

In a letter sent to Speaker of Parliament Abdulla Maseeh while returning the Bill, the President said that the government’s purpose when proposing the bill was to include in the Child Protection Act, the provision of education opportunities by the State to the extent stated in Article 36 of the Constitution; which had not been done by the time this bill was passed.

The President noted that in the clause regarding the provision of free education to every child living in the Maldives, the bill states that the State is required to provide free education only to Maldivian children, which contradicts the Constitution, several laws, and the international treaty on children’s rights ratified by Maldives.

Speaking at today’s parliament sitting, Parliamentary Group Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik said that the parliament has passed many bills that contradict the Constitution and other laws in the past, and urged the parliament, in which PPM holds majority, and its committees, to do everything possible to ensure that this is not repeated.

He said that the issues mentioned in the President’s letter regarding the Bill must be revised.

Member of opposition party Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Medhu-Henveyru MP Ali Azim said that the present parliament is dominated by PPM, thus, every bill sent to the parliament by the government will be passed as proposed by the movement.

He said that the current parliament, when passing bills sent by the government, pays no attention to conducting assessments, ensuring the bills do not contradict the Constitution and laws, and discussing the issues with relevant authorities.