4. Measures taken to implement Anti‐Human Trafficking Act ( 12/2013) specially the provisions related to providing protection and rehabilitation measures Sexual Exploitation (Article 34 ) 121. It has been 5 years since the ratification of Special Procedures for Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse Act (Law 12/2009), and government has fallen short to compile and publish child sexual offenders registry although it is specified under Article 57 of the Act. Although huge numbers of cases are lodged on child abuse, very few gets prosecuted and convicted.202 122. The issue of children getting re‐victimized and continuously abused needs to be addressed and ensure efficiency of systems established to remove the child from the environment of abuse. The limited capacity of the state to accommodate abused children under state care needs to be resolved urgently.203Police officers working in atolls are not aware if there is a written procedure put in place to prevent victims of child sexual abuse from further re‐victimization.204 HRCM is aware that the authorities sometimes treat victims of sexual abuse as perpetrators. 205,206,207 The general public has little faith in the system for providing justice and taking appropriate action by the relevant authorities and therefore sometimes abstains from reporting such cases to the authorities.208 123. Child prostitution is an alarming issue faced by children of both sexes in Maldives. This issue is often reported in the media often informed by the police. 209 There are reports of children transported to the capital, Malé, from other islands for educational reasons or domestic service being subjected to sexual abuse.210 However, it is not clear if any of these cases were prosecuted.211 The committee may wish to ask the government 1. Status of implementing the Special Procedures for Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse Act 2. Actions to prevent children from sexual abuse and child prostitution. 3. Steps taken to prevent re‐victimization of sexually abused children. Other forms of Exploitation (Article 36 ) 124. Many gangs in Maldives exploit underage children and involve them in criminal activities to gain monetary and material benefits to the gangs. 212,213 Some of the most dangerous gangs in the capital utilize children between the age of 7 to 9 years. Those children earn money from gang activities and family members of some of these children encourage them by not questioning them.214 The committee may wish to ask the government 1. Actions taken to stop children from joining gangs and taking part in gang related criminal activities. 2. Legal actions taken against those who recruit under aged children to gangs. Rehabilitation of Child Victims (Article 39 ) 125. Although child abuse and exploitations occur throughout the Maldives, currently there is no appropriate system laid down to remedy victims of child abuse and exploitation.215 Officials working with the children in the atolls as well as parents of child victims are unaware of existence and necessity of such a system. Also, there are no appropriate rehabilitation programs available for child abuse victims.216 Page 29 of 39