Children dying due to negligence of caretakers on the rise: HRCM

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has said that the rate of children dying and getting injured due to negligence of caretakers has been increasing recently. HRCM expressed its concern over the state of affairs in a Statement issued today.

HRCM Statement said that more and more children are dying and getting hurt to various degrees due to the negligence of those who are obliged to care for them, and that such incidents could be minimized with joint efforts from all concerned authorities of the Government.

“To solve this problem, the administrative and legal structure of the society must be boosted. We call the Government to take action on a large scale to increase awareness among those who are responsible for nurturing and protecting children, and the whole society”, read the Statement.

HRCM Statement also said that negligence over children was letting many other elements harmful to them get a foothold in the society. The Statement then said that school environment should be friendly and protective towards children, and that the right to education should be ensured for each and every child in a meaningful manner.

While the HRCM has expressed concern over negligence of children, incidents of children dying due to negligence on the part of adults have been more frequent during the last couple of months than any time in recent history. In one of these incidents, a baby died from falling from the second-floor balcony of a house in Malé. A week ago, a child died in A.Dh. Maamigili from falling into a large fish tank, while another child died from drowning yesterday, in the island of G.Dh. Gaddhoo.

Meanwhile, the Elections Commission has today said that it is deeply concerned over involvement of children in political activism by some political parties.