Security of Members of Judiciary 90. Some judges and lawyers informed HRCM that members of the judiciary and their families often receive threats and are at times attacked due to objectionable verdicts and processes of trials. There were incidents when some staff members of criminal court were attacked during criminal proceedings, inside the court, by persons brought in for trial. The Judges’ Act which was ratified in August 2010 obligates the security forces of the State to lay down procedures to provide security to the judges except the Chief Justice, whose security is to be provided by Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF). However, it is not clear whether such procedure has been laid down by any responsible authority to provide the needed security and physical protection to the persons of judiciary. 91. The following incidents highlight some acts of violence against officials of the judiciary. b) On March 8, 2012, a magistrate court Judge was attacked and his leg broken by unknown assailants.40 c) On January 3, 2011, Presidential Member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Aishath Velezinee, was stabbed four times on her back in the capital city by a group of people.41 d) On August 1, 2010, the President of Judicial Service Commission (who was also Supreme Court judge) was attacked by a mob. 92. Many of the judges are in fear of being attacked as there are frequently reported incidents, in the media, of brutal attacks which lead to deaths and devastating results which could make the judges dealing with criminals feel insecure about their own safety. Maldives, being a small community where almost everyone knows everyone else, judges and prosecutors can easily be targeted and their safety and rights violated. 93. The State should take steps to provide security for officials working in the judiciary and raise awareness on the inherent right to life and security of persons and promote respect for human rights of all. Competency 94. The judges and prosecutors of the judiciary are not properly appraised to determine their competency. As the Judges’ Act states that every judge should prosecute all types of cases, they have to work outside their area of expertise leading to further incompetency, since Chapter: Article 14: Equality before the Law & Article 26: Legal Protection of the Law a) On March 20, 2012, Chief Justice’s car was damaged by a group of protesters in the Capital City.39 43