Prevent the flogging of 15 year old rape victim in Maldives

This is horrific and disturbing, but the truth. A 15 year old girl, who was repeatedly raped by her own step father has been has been sentenced to 100 lashes for "fornication" in the Maldives.

The authorities claim that the sentence is unrelated to the rape case, and she is being punished accordingly for having consensual pre-marital sex with a man - a punishable offense under the Islamic Sharia laws practiced in the country.

However, it is very concerning the man she supposedly had sexual relations with, has not been identified or charged by the authories. In fact, in 90 percent of those flogged for fornication in Maldives are women and underage girls who have been potentially abused or raped while men enjoy a culture of impunity.

In the case of this 15 year old girl, the state had clearly failed to protect her despite multiple reports of abuse over the past years. Investigations revealed the girl has been abused since she was 11 by her step father and his friends, while her mother did nothing to protect her. When she became pregnant as a result of the abuse, her parents allegedly killed and buried the baby. During pregnany and delivery, she was not even provided any medical help. Today her parents stand trial for the charges of abuse, neglect and infanticide. It is horrible that the girl had been charged and punished, even before her accused abusers were convicted.

It is also very concerning that she was charged and ultimately sentenced, despite repeated calls from the Ministry of Gender and Family and Human Right's Commission of the Maldives to drop the charges. Both authorities have said that psychological assessment of the girl clearly indicates that she suffers from deep mental trauma and any confession obtained under such unhealthy state of mind, cannot be deemed legally eligible.

In the face of growing international and local pressures, the president and government has already committed to review its position on punishing victims of sexual abuse, especially children. But they are facing immense opposition from ultra conservative groups of the society who are vehemently defending the flogging sentence.

Please show your support to sustain the international pressures on the government of Maldives until the flogging sentence is overturned unconditionally and necessary legislations are taken to prevent such degrading sentences in future, and steps are taken to adequately support and protect the victims of sexual abuse.