Maldives Ministry Urges Public Not to Disclose Personal Information of Child Sexual Abuse Victims

The Ministry of Family has issued a public appeal against the disclosure of personal information of children, particularly those suffering from sexual abuse, emphasizing that such actions are illegal and harm the dignity of children. The appeal comes amid the circulation of information on social media regarding the case of former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, who was recently arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child while holding a trusted position. Shahid, the former President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, is currently detained for 30 days in connection with the case. He has denied the allegations, claiming they are politically motivated. In its statement, the Ministry highlighted that the Constitution and the Law on Protection of Children's Rights prohibit the disclosure of any personal information of children, including names, addresses, educational institutions, and images, in a manner that could harm their dignity. The Ministry noted that such information has been observed being disclosed in various media outlets, and called on all parties to respect the legal protections in place for children.