Maldives: Strengthening rehabilitation and reintegration framework of the Maldives Correctional Service 

Male, Maldives/19 December 2023: The rehabilitation of offenders and their successful social reintegration into society remains a main objective of criminal justice systems and correctional services around the world. In that respect, the Government of Maldives emphasized the importance to support the social reintegration of offenders as a means of preventing further crime and protecting society. Although rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) have been part of the legislation and political will in Maldives, achieving a well-structured and functioning R&R of convicted prisoners, as well as of persons with substance use disorders into the society, presents several obstacles and challenges.

In 2016, Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) introduced a four-phase model Rehabilitation Framework to guide its R&R work through a specialized command. The current R&R framework has not been implemented in all prisons due to various challenges such as the lack of appropriate facilities, lack of resources and specialized staff and due to the need for improved skills, including greater understanding and application of human rights through R&R, adoption of tools to apply individualized sentence planning among its current R&R staff. 

Building on the recommendations and findings of the UNODC R&R Assessment in 2023, UNODC’s Global Maritime Crime Programme delivered a series of training programmes to uplift the knowledge and skills of the R&R practitioners in the Maldives Correctional Service in December this year, engaging all levels including senior, mid-level and front-line officers.

On 3, 5 and 7 December, nearly 70 R&R practitioners, including 16 female officers, from the Maldives Correctional Service were trained on the R&R strategies, with a focus on implementing targeted interventions based on the level of risks and needs of the individuals in detention. During these training sessions, the participants got the opportunity to delve deep into the concepts such as the effective utilization of the RNR (Risk, Needs and Responsivity) Model, Risk Assessment Tools, sentence planning, techniques of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the significance of sentence planning, with the guidance of the UNODC GMCP’s international prison expert.

This would enable the Maldives Correctional Service to make its R&R framework more inclusive with special attention to the factors such as age and gender as well as vulnerable groups such as the juveniles, female offenders, substance use offenders and Violent Extremist Prisoners (VEPs) and align itself with the international standards. Such wholesome R&R interventions could not only dissuade offenders from subscription to violent extremist ideologies but also reduce recidivism and enhance public security.

These training programmes are to be continued in 2024. In sequence to these training programmes in R&R, Trainers of Trainer (ToT) sessions are planned and carried out to ensure sustainable capacity development in R&R in the Maldives. Furthermore, UNODC GMCP intends to promote a community-based, whole-of-society approach to R&R in the Maldives by strengthening collaboration between the Maldives Correctional Service and the external entities such as the private sector entities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society. This would optimize the reintegration mechanisms of the ex-offenders upon their release into the society, thereby reducing the rate of recidivism and enhancing overall security.

These activities are delivered under two initiatives aimed at enhanced security in the Maldives, funded by the European Union and the Government of Japan and contribute to the SDGs 16 and 17.