President Mohamed Nasheed has said that emergence of a democratic system and reviews of the Constituition have factored in the development of a better prison system. The President made these remarks, while speaking at the Second Chance - Inmates Creativity Fair 2012, held this evening.
Speaking at the exhibition at the National Arts Gallery, President Nasheed said civil society should encourage the reform and reintegration of prisoners back into society. President Nasheed added that societal co-operation will be judged by initiatives taken to formulate its civil prison reform initiative.
President Nasheed added that incarceration in the Maldives was not based on the offence committed. The President further added that torture and oppression faced by prisoners in this country were severe in the past.
The President further described the previous condition of prisons as abysmal before the introduction of a democratic system and stressed on the significance of a legal framework which offers a second chance for criminal offenders. In his speech, President Nasheed also guaranteed the continuance of the ‘Second Chance’ initiative in the future.
