The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has launched an investigation into the recent decision by the state to take a newborn infant into its custody. The case, which drew widespread public attention after circulating on social media, involves a child who was removed from the mother’s care just three days after birth.

Reports suggest that the decision was made citing the mother’s mental health conditions and physical disabilities, which authorities believed hindered her ability to provide adequate care for the infant. HRCM confirmed today that a private individual has filed a formal complaint regarding the matter, prompting an official inquiry into the procedures followed during the intervention.

In response to the growing concern, the Ministry of Health issued a statement clarifying that the protection of minors is a paramount state responsibility. The Ministry emphasized that children are only taken into state care as a measure of last resort under the Child Rights Protection Act, specifically in instances where the child’s safety and well-being cannot be guaranteed within the family environment.

The Ministry further noted that such decisions are based on comprehensive assessments of the child’s surrounding circumstances to ensure that all other avenues for family-based care have been exhausted before state intervention occurs.