First Lady Madam Sajida Mohamed has said that we need to hurry to provide assistance to children before they meet in courtrooms for violating laws and regulations. She said this while speaking at the opening of the “National Juvenile Justice Conference 2025”, which was held for the first time in the Maldives. Speaking as the guest of honor at the ceremony held at Villa Nautica to start the National Juvenile Justice Conference 2025, First Lady Madam Sajida Mohamed said that the environment in which children who are exposed to crime have to live plays a major role in their involvement in crime.
She also said that when society labels children in a certain way and makes them feel like criminals, the negative habits seen from children before they commit major crimes are a plea for help, even if they cannot express it. She noted that we need to help these children before they become harsh and violent people due to society’s perceptions. Therefore, the First Lady said that we need to hurry today to become people who provide the care and assistance needed for these children before they meet in courtrooms for committing major crimes that violate laws and regulations. The First Lady also highlighted an example of this in her speech.
“Statistics show that before a 14-year-old was arrested for murder, the child had interacted with relevant state agencies 191 times in various ways. The question that arises at this point is how many opportunities did we have to create opportunities for that child.” Madam Sajida said.
First Lady Sajida Mohamed has appealed to all relevant parties to work towards change through the National Juvenile Justice Conference 2025 over the next two days. She appealed to work on finding solutions through this conference, remembering that children exposed to crime were once victims themselves. She also requested those working in the education sector to be aware of the various changes seen in children and to give them extra attention.
In her speech, the First Lady Madam Sajida Mohamed highlighted the situation of children at risk in society. She expressed concern about the situations faced by children who are victims of sexual abuse, children who are exposed to the dangers of drugs and gang crimes, and children who choose the wrong path due to lack of care and compassion as a result of not receiving justice for various issues they faced in childhood through the system.
She also said that while the state budget spends about a billion rufiyaa annually on various efforts to ensure the protection of children, it needs to be done through a robust system. She emphasized the importance of making this system one that provides protection from the circumstances that led to crime, rather than rushing to punish.
