The Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice (OTJ) has begun closed hearings on complaints about human rights violations, inhuman treatment, and torture in Maldivian prisons that occurred from 1st January 1953 to 17th November 2018.
At a ceremony held yesterday, Chief Ombudsperson, Al-Ustaz Abdul Salaam Arif said the main objectives of the hearings are to disclose the stories of victims, urge the relevant authorities to seek justice for victims, reveal the truth about past human rights and fundamental freedoms violations.
He also said that with the hearing the OTJ hopes to raise public awareness of human rights violations as well as obtain information on cases investigated by the office.
OTJ said that the hearings, which began yesterday, will be conducted in two sessions; morning and afternoon. Statements from two witnesses were taken at yesterday’s hearings.
The Ombudsperson's Office said that these hearings will examine the extent of systematic deliberate actions at various stages of arrest and detention within the jurisdiction of OTJ, including deprivation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and torture.
It also said that it will provide the opportunity for the complainants as well as others who have experienced such incidents to participate in the hearings and gather information.
The identification of other factors surrounding the issues will also consider compliance with domestic laws, rules, and regulations to guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of the Maldives and to prohibit acts of torture, as well as international treaties to which the country is adhered to.
