PPM will seek strong legislative solutions for social protection this year, says Nihan

Leader of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Parliamentary Group Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik has said that PPM would prioritise social protection at the parliament this year, and although legislation is already in place, the party would seek even stronger solutions to issues such as child abuse and domestic violence.

Nihan made this remark while speaking at a PPM rally at Carnival area in Malé on Thursday night.

Referring to the recent death of a three-year-old child in Vaavu Rakeedhoo as a result of suspected abuse, Nihan said that failure to report domestic violence is an offence under the Domestic Violence Act, and anyone found guilty of this offence would be duly punished.

He said that if sufficient funds have not been included in the state budget for protection of children’s rights, PPM would advocate sending a contingency budget for this purpose to the parliament.

Nihan’s remarks follow reports that the island council reported to the Ministry of Law and Gender on 29 December 2014, that the child who died on Wednesday was being abused by his mother.

Acting Minister of Law and Gender, Attorney General Mohamed Anil said yesterday that the ministry, upon being informed of the abuse, investigated the matter and confirmed that the child was living in a safe environment.