13-14 July 2010: Workshop on “Police reforms in the Maldives: Strategies, Obstacles, and Way Forward”
In order to promote better understanding of policing issues in the Maldives, CHRI has been working closely with the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) and the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM). Along with MDN, CHRI oversaw the compilation of 101 Questions suited for Maldivian law in Dhivehi. The 101 questions titled “Fuluhunnai Behey 101 Suvaalaai Javaab” was launched in Male on 13 July 2010 at the headquarters of HRCM. Immediately after the launch, CHRI led two days of training/capacity building of civil society members and staff of independent bodies in the Maldives. The objective of the training was to educate Maldivians more on what democratic policing means and how it can apply in the Maldivian context.
5 September 2011: Consultation with civil society on the Maldives Police Strategic Plan (2007-2011)
As part of the study being carried out by CHRI on the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2007-2011, a one-day consultation was held in Male on 5 September 2011. The study is being jointly done by CHRI and Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) who is a long term partner. It seeks to identify gaps between the promises made in the Strategic Plan and its actual implementation, which will in-turn throw light on whether the police have become more democratic and service oriented with the transition to a multi-party democratic set up. A survey was carried out in ten atolls of Maldives with the local police officials as well as with local community groups. The survey findings were collated by CHRI and MDN and were then shared with key stakeholders in Male at the consultation. The main purpose was to draw additional insights into the survey findings.
Additionally, individual meetings were also held with several stakeholders including the Minister of Home Affairs, the Prosecutor General, members of the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, Chair and members of the Police Integrity Commission and UNDP staff. The consultation and the meetings threw light on the functioning of the Maldives police, the persistent challenges, major malpractices and scope for police accountability. Together, the survey findings and the discussions held will be published in the form of a report by the year end. The report will also put forward recommendations for improving the planning cycle of the Maldives police in order to make it more responsive to community needs, more accountable and more efficient.