46. With the establishment of Amaan Hiyaa in 2014, 12 adolescent girls aged 12 to 18 who were previously under Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa, were transferred to this shelter.73 NPM’s visit to Amaan Hiyaa found that treatment plans formulated for children did not encompass adequate reintegration measures. 74 Shelter fell short to initiate programs on vocational development, behavior modification and recreation needed for all children in the shelter.75 47. Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa provided shelter to 64 children even though the capacity of 45. Even though most of the children in the shelter come from an abusive environment, there were no individual care plan and progressive assessment reviews undertaken prior to 2014.76However, subsequent counseling sessions provided by MoLG have not shown much positive change in children’s behavior and conduct.77 One possible reason could be lack of coordination between counselors and care takers.78 48. State care arrangements for children with disabilities needs to be strengthened. Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa lacks an endorsed procedure in dealing with children with disabilities, and care workers are in need of appropriate training to support children with disabilities. Shelter has facilitated arrangements for a volunteer SEN (Special Education Needs) teacher to take classes for children with disabilities.79 49. The constraints faced in Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa and Amaan Hiyaa in terms of human resource and capacity remain as a major setback in carrying out necessary functions stated in Minimum Standard for Children’s Homes. Quality of services provided in the shelter was affected by the acute shortage of skilled staff along with their intense workload. Paragraph 129 and 132 of state report provides an accurate explanation on impact of low child‐to‐staff ratio, by stating that staff was unable to provide much care to every child and there have been instances where children under state care, faced further neglect. 50. Considering Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa was operating beyond its capacity, government felt short to accommodate increasing number of victims of child abuse and neglect. Government has set up 5 safe houses including Amaan Hiyaa in Vilimale’ to provide protection for DV victims in 2014. Child abuse victims who need protection during the investigation phase would also be provided temporary accommodation in these safe houses. As this concept was developed after MoLG submitted estimated budget for 2014, budget for safe houses in 2014 was not allocated.80 Thus safe houses especially those established in the atolls remain not fully operational. 51. Adolescent girls running away from Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa is also an issue that is frequently picked up media in recent times. In early 2013 police arrested two adolescent girls who escaped Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa in the middle of the night to socialize with boys. The two girls were held first held at Dhoonidhoo Police Custodial before their transfer to Maafushi Prison. HRCM was unable to obtain information and cooperation required from government authorities during its early stages of investigation. HRCM’s visit to Maafushi Prison verified that initially two adolescent girls were kept with two other underage female inmates serving a sentence and later was moved to a detached area in premises of the Prison. This incident was also brought to the attention of Parliament’s National Security Committee which highlighted that all concerning authorities neglected their duties and responsibilities to protect rights of these children.81 52. Since many of the children in Kuda Kudhinge Hiyaa come from unstable family environment, there were accounts of children suffering from behavioral issues. NPM’s 2014 visit to Home for Persons Page 12 of 39