Gov’t Announces Completion of “Hope Island” Drawings

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has announced the completion of the drawing for “Hope Island”. 

The proposed financing model will be submitted to the Economic Council for review within the week. Minister Ihusaan revealed plans to establish a rehabilitation facility aimed at diverting young offenders from criminal environments. The government also intends to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 years, as part of a broader effort to reform the juvenile justice system.

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Under the current legislation, individuals aged 15 to 18 are held criminally responsible. However, the increase in criminal activity among children aged 12 to 15 has prompted this adjustment. Minister Ihusaan emphasised that while the age of responsibility is being reduced, the new law will not entail imprisonment for children aged 12 to 14. Instead, the law will outline alternative measures.

“Hope Island” will accommodate up to 400 children at a time, providing them with a structured environment that includes daily morning prayers, formal education, physical exercise, and skill development programmes. 

Children residing on “Hope Island” will spend 18 years there before being required to serve in either the Maldives Police Service or the Maldives National Defence Force for a designated period.