expenditure is spent on rent;264 40% of the average income per person is spent on rent;265 71% of the households in Male’ receive an income from rented buildings. 266 Social housing is costly compared to average income.267 Furthermore, the latest findings by Presidential Committee Investigating Public Housing Schemes show negligence in flat allocation. 268,269,270 Housing crisis exists outside of the capital city as well: government has stopped issuing dwelling for residential purposes in many islands due to lack of land; several extended families live in one household. 271 41. Proper safety measures are not in place in houses and buildings which is an imminent risk for dwellers. 272, 273 Recommendations: Provide affordable social housing. Enact the Tenancy Bill and strengthen regulatory framework on rights of tenants. Revise and enforce Building Code. Enforce Construction Act and ensure regular monitoring and compliance with the Act Environment and Climate Change 42. As a low lying island State, with the predicted global warming of 1.5°C between 2030 and 2050, Maldives is vulnerable to climate change induced hazards if no mitigation measures are taken. 274 The adverse effects of climate change are already visible; mass coral bleaching episodes in 1998 and 2016,275 decrease in annual rainfall, variations in mean average temperature in the northern and southern parts of the country, rising trend in sea level and increase in SST from 0.11 to 0.15°C/decade.276 Unsustainable development efforts have further exacerbated the effects of climate change.277, 278, 279 Climate Change Bill currently underway is administrative rather than fostering climate resilience. 280 43. An estimated 312,075mt of solid waste is discarded every year281 and of this: 21% is attributed to tourism; 90% of the food waste produced in the resorts are separated for sea disposal; 282 waste from resorts gets washed up to inhabited islands hindering island tourism and this waste is comprised of food waste, plastic bottles, beer cans and wine bottles.283 While Island Waste Management Centres have been established in islands, the waste collection system in place is not efficient.284 Hence, waste is often discarded by means that are harmful to the environment. 285, 286 44. Mass removal of palms and trees for landscaping is a major concern. 287, 288 45. Environment and climate change is not incorporated into development of planned urban cities. 289 Factors such as food security, water security, energy security or sewage treatment were not factored in the planning process.290 46. While cases related to environment lodged at HRCM are considerably less, the violations observed in the cases reported are alarming.291 The current justice system does not adequately address environmental loss and damage. 292 The system lacks capacity to compensate for natural eco-system loss.293 Recommendations: Include measures towards fostering climate resilience in the Climate Change Bill. Allocate sufficient funding and resources for waste management centers to work towards a zero waste model. Raise awareness on environment and climate change in a rights perspective. Religious Extremist Ideologies 47. Youth are susceptible to engagement in extremist rhetoric294 and authorities have failed to effectively address the spreading of religious extremist ideologies295 and xenophobia.296 In 2014, authorities allowed a group of people to march the streets of Male’ bearing the flag of Islamic State.297 A number of Maldivians have traveled abroad to join militant groups, mostly in Syria.298 As some of them are looking to return back,299 this poses as a human rights dilemma that the country needs to urgently address. Extremist groups are accused of the murder of a lawmaker, a journalist and a blogger.300 A Maldivian who is working as an ISIS-K recruiter is included in the US terrorist list.301 While there is a significant need for counter terrorism and de-radicalization, the existing law was predominantly used as a means to suppress political opponents. 302 48. Issue of unregistered marriages, refusal to immunize303 and refusal to send children to school based on religious belief persists. 304 Children born to unregistered marriages, girls, and women in such marriages face serious legal and social consequences.305 Recommendations: Revise the anti-terrorism law to guarantee human security and uphold human rights principles and to ensure de-radicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration programs are structured and mandatory. Ensure that deradicalization, rehabilitation and reintegration programs are developed and implemented in a way that guarantee human security and uphold human rights principles. Take measures to mitigate legal and social issues arising from out of court marriages. Annex 1 1 cases investigated by HRCM HRCM(2018).Submission from the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives for information on the initial report submitted by Maldives under Article 19 of Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or 2 6