HRCM staff barred from attending protests for Yumnu over conflict of interest

Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM)’s staff have been barred from participating in ongoing serial protests by youths demanding justice for the young woman who was found injured on the rooftop of a building in Male’ on April 18^th.

When questioned regarding the move by the media in HRCM’s media group, the Commission said its staff were conducting on-site monitoring and media-monitoring with respect to ongoing protests in Male’ that were launched on April 23^rd as part of its mandate to protect and empower human rights.

The Commission also noted it was monitoring the actions of Maldives Police Service in connection to the case under its oversight mandate.

HRCM emphasized that, in accordance with global best practices upheld by national human rights institutions, employees of such organizations should refrain from participating in activities that may carry a conflict of interest. Similarly, the Commission said it has instructed its employees against participating in activities that carry a conflict of interest.

The Commission explained that even if done in a personal capacity, an employee’s involvement in such activities could compromise the integrity of the Commission’s work. The move was taken to ensure discipline within the Commission and guarantee all its activities are impartial and in line with international standards, HRCM added.

21-year-old Mariyam Yumnu was found injured on the rooftop of a warehouse in the Henveiru district at around 07:30 am on April 18^th.

According to the police, their investigation uncovered that Yumnu fell from a skylight on the ninth-floor stairwell of the adjacent building, H. Fentenoy, but that there was no evidence of foul play.

But before her fall, she had been part of a group of at least nine individuals who were at Ma. Maandhooge Dhekunuge- for a party, where they are believed to have possibly consumed drugs and alcohol.

The case of Yumnu, who spent nearly three hours on the rooftop of a warehouse before a neighbor saw her and alerted the authorities, has sparked serial protests in Male’ after it became known that the individuals involved have family links to influential figures, including a cabinet minister and a diplomat.