HRCM urges President to ratify Anti-Torture Bill

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has called upon the President to ratify the Anti-Torture Bill. The bill was passed unanimously by the parliament on Monday.

The commission welcomed the parliament for passing the bill and noted that 17 of the 21 comments proposed by the commission were incorporated to the bill. HRCM hailed the passing of the bill as a great achievement.

The Anti-Torture Bill declares freedom from torture as a fundamental right, penalises torture, ensures respect for human rights of criminal suspects, and prohibits torture in state custody, detention in undisclosed locations, and solitary confinement. The bill further declares any statement obtained through torture to be invalid in a court of law.

The bill was presented to parliament by Galolhu-north MP Eva Abdulla in 2011.