Committee to question state institutes over pregnancy of underage girl

Human Rights and Gender Committee of Parliament has made the decision to summon senior officials from Gender Ministry, Maldives Police Service, Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) and Education Ministry over the sexual exploitation and impregnation of a 13-year-old girl under the cover of an illegal marriage.

The officials are scheduled to be questioned at the parliamentary committee meeting at 8:30 pm this Wednesday.

The case came to public attention following a stabbing onboard a sea cucumber fishing boat on Friday, November 22. It was later discovered that the victim of the stabbing was involved in an illegal marriage with the girl.

She gave birth to a child conceived in this ‘marriage’ this November.

Human Rights and Gender Committee has recommended conducting a nation-wide assessment to identify whether any more underage girls had been exploited in illegal marriages.