Minister of Defense addresses on World Day Against Human Trafficking in Persons 2021

Human trafficking is the process of trapping people through the use of violence, deception or coercion and exploiting them for financial or personal gain. It is a massive issue which is illegally practiced all over the world. The theme for the year is “Victims’ Voices Lead the Way”.  

MInister of Defence, Uza. Mariya Didi hopes to consolidate the progress in the fight against human trafficking in a short period of time and further strengthen our work to implement 5Ps; policies, protection, prosecution, prevention and partnerships. 

On World Day against Trafficking in Persons, Minister Mariya also expressed her gratitude towards President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for his commitment and personal attention to Anti-Human Trafficking cause in the Maldives. 

Despite the unprecedented difficult circumstances caused by the COVID19 pandemic, the government has taken a number of key initiatives. It includes the establishment of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (AntiTIP) Office an appointment of a director, the allocation of funds from the State Budget for anti-human trafficking activities, setting-up of a victim shelter in Gulhifalhu and the ratification of the 2nd amendment to the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, in alignment with the 2000 United Nations TIP Protocol. 

The consistent dedicated work led to Maldives escalating to the Tier 2 in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report 2021 earlier this month, after being put on the Watchlist based on 2017’s precarious performance. 

Minister Mariya appreciated the continuous efforts and commitments to implement the Maldives National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings by Mr. Ali Jaishan Amir, Director of Anti-Trafficking in Human Beings, and all members of the National Steering Committee on Anti-Trafficking in Human Beings, its member institutions and related agencies, trafficking under the "New Normal" (2020-2022).