The Health Ministry has issued a directive prohibiting the publication of any information that compromises the dignity of children in cases involving child sexual abuse.
The Ministry stated that this directive was issued to safeguard the best interests of children and to halt the ongoing disclosure of minors' private information across various media platforms.
In its statement, the Ministry highlighted that the Constitution mandates special protection for children, requiring the state, families, and the community to provide them with necessary assistance. The Ministry also reminded the public that national laws have been formulated in alignment with international conventions to which the Maldives is a signatory.
One such law is the Child Rights Protection Act. Citing this legislation, the Ministry emphasised that disclosing any private information regarding children is strictly prohibited. This legal protection extends to children accused of crimes, victims of crime, and all children in need of protection.
"No party shall disclose any personal information of children in a manner that undermines their dignity," the Ministry’s statement read.
The Ministry further specified that personal details—such as names, addresses, and educational institutions—or any information or photographs that could lead to the identification of a child must not be published in any media. These regulations are established to protect the welfare of children.
The Ministry noted that disclosing a child's information to influence public opinion or for any other purpose constitutes a violation of their rights.
Concluding the statement, the Ministry reminded the public that protecting the rights of children is a legal responsibility shared by the entire community. All parties were instructed to refrain from disseminating such information on any media platform.
While the Ministry did not specify a particular case in its statement, it is believed to be a response to posts circulating on social media regarding a matter involving former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. Those posts contained content deemed damaging to the dignity of a minor.
