Second Legislative Drafting Workshop held for staff members of the Attorney General’s Office, People’s Majlis Secretariat, President’s Office, Prosecutor General’s Office and Maldives Police Service in the Maldives
From 11-13 October 2019, the Max Planck Foundation conducted its second workshop in Maldives in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and the People’s Majlis Secretariat. The workshop was inaugurated by the former President Mohamed Nasheed, current Speaker of the People’s Majlis (pictured, centre). The Speaker addressed the participants and their role in the drafting process. The second workshop was also attended by new participants from other institutions such as the President’s Office, Prosecutor General’s Office and Maldives Police Service. The workshop was attended by the staff of these institutions who contribute to the legislative process within their respective institutions.
Presentations on drafting in compliance with higher ranking laws were made by the Foundation’s Research Fellows. The workshop programme covered drafting in compliance with the Constitution of Maldives as well as the State’s obligations under international law. In particular, the procedures enshrined in, and principles underpinning the Constitution including the Bill of Rights and values such as dignity, equality and freedom were discussed.
In addition, a local expert provided an overview of Islamic Law including comparative perspectives and its application with regard to drafting laws in the Maldives that are not inconsistent with the tenets of Islam. The workshop also addressed sources of international law including the human rights instruments to which the Maldives is a party. The participants were highly engaged in lively simulation exercises on each day of the workshop in tackling hypothetical legislative proposals that were inconsistent or incompatible with higher ranking laws and proposing innovative as well as practical alternatives.
This workshop is the second of three to be held in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and the People’s Majlis Secretariat as part of the German Federal Foreign Office funded project, “Strengthening the Rule of Law in the Maldives“. The next workshop is scheduled to take place in Malé in the beginning of 2020.