Child sex offender bill passed with crucial changes

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

The People’s Majlis yesterday passed the child sex offenders Bill with some major changes to punishments given to the offense. This Bill was submitted to the Majlis by Kulhudhuhfushi Dhekunu constituency member Mohamed Nasheed during June of this year with the objective of providing harsher punishment to those who sexually abuse and molest children.

The Bill was passed with the support of 58 members from the 60 attending. The two members who voted against it were Bilendhoo constituency member Ahmed Hamza and Hoarafushi constituency member Ahmed Rasheed.

While many amendments proposed by the members were passed, member’s differed on the jail term for the child sex offenders. While most members said that harsher punishment was required such an offence, some other members said that 15, 18, 20 or 25 year jail term was very harsh and that it was a cause for concern that such sex offenders are not given any opportunity to reform themselves and join back the society.

Although the Bill was passed with jail terms for child sex offence to be ranging from 15 – 25 years, at the debate stage a number of members who voted in favor of it did express that this term was too harsh.

The bill defines at least 18 different acts as child sex offences, including molestation, performing a sexual act in the presence of a minor, forcing a minor to watch a sexual act, child abuse by a person in position of authority or trust, showing genitals to a minor and incest are some offences mentioned.

The bill also gives the opportunity for a victim of a child sex offence to seek monetary compensation from the offender and calls on the state to provide social security for the victim, in case the child cannot be supported by his or her parents or guardians.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits public release of details of victims by the media or any authority having access to such information and makes failure to alert authorities by a person, who knows that a child sex offence is committed or is about to be committed, a punishable offence.

Reader Comments

Post a comment

 characters available



The opinions expressed here are those of the individual authors and commenters and do not necessarily represent the views of Miadhu News Daily. We do not take responsibility for the opinions, facts, or claims presented by individual authors or commenters, and reserve the right to moderate or delete inappropriate comments.

Miadhu Opinion Poll
  • Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.