Committee to visit Kudakudhinge Hiya and Maafushi Prison

The National Security Committee has said that people over the age of 18 are being provided shelter at the Kudakudhinge Hiya orphanage located in Vilimale’.

Chairman of the National Security Committee Hulhu-Henveiru MP Moosa Manik said while speaking at a press conference at the parliament office last night that the issue came to light after senior officials of Kudakudhinge Hiya were questioned at a committee meeting held last night.

Officials of Kudakudhinge Hiya were summoned to the committee in relation to a case submitted by Madaveli MP Mohamed Nazim, requesting to investigate the issue of two girls aged 16 and 17 being kept at Maafushi Prison after they escaped from Kudakudhinge Hiya.

Moosa said that the decision to visit Kudakudhinge Hiya and Maafushi Prison was made following the information provided by officials of Human Rights Commission, Department of Penitentiary and Kudakudhinge Hiya who were summoned to the committee last night.

The committee has decided to observe the condition at Maafushi Prison and Kudakudhinge Hiya during their visit.

Moosa further said that the information shared by the officials with the committee revealed that all groups had been negligent in providing due security and protection to children.

Gender Ministry earlier stressed that the two girls were not being kept at a prison, and that they had been placed at a home dedicated for children in Maafushi.

Moosa said, however, that officials of DPRS had agreed that the two girls were being kept at a place designated for criminals. Moosa said that the girls are kept at a place where children are serving sentences.