Motion of No Confidence Against HRCM

For failing to protect the human rights of citizens, a motion of no confidence against the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) is being considered by the MDP Parliamentary Group, said Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Mohamed Mustafa to Minivan News yesterday.

When HRCM was approached regarding the situation of Homosexuality in June 2011, they quoted growing religious extremism as the reason why the Queer community of Maldives was being ignored by them. They have failed to answer e-mails and phone calls since regarding this matter.

“We have noticed that the HRCM members that we appointed have failed to protect the rights of the citizens, and are more concerned about protecting the rights of particular persons”, said MP Mustafa. “I am ashamed of HRCM for they have showed no effort in fulfilling the duty assigned to them.”

He boldly went on to claim that “… there is no use of the current HRCM members and paying money to them is a big waste”. He also called on the resignation of the commission members and said the commission would be “better with empty desks”.

Sex between same-sex adults remains criminalized in the Maldives. According to the Section 15, clause 173 (8a) “Sexual activity with a member of the same sex”, under the “Rules of adjudication”, the punishment is to be lashed (tha’zeer) between 19 to 39 times and banished or imprisoned for a period between 1 to 3 years, taking into account, the severity of the offence.

The consideration of the overdue motion of no confidence against HRCM arrives after a teenage boy was seriously injured and left disabled, and exactly two years after the Islamic Ministry criticises HRCM whilst in an attempt to shift focus from the issue of child concubines in the Maldives by saying that Homosexuality is rampant and being promoted after a letter on Homoesxuality was published on Minivan News in September 2009.

A biological and behavioural survey (BBS) on HIV/AIDS in 2008 in the Maldives revealed the size of the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) was estimated to be between 1,600 – 4,200. 

Via:  i ♥ f k

Posted in: Politics / Religion