In early February, Tetra Tech International Development Europe convened the Unlocking Justice conference in the Maldives, working with the British High Commission Malé and the Attorney General’s Office to highlight a transformative moment for the island nation. The event marked the culmination of a six-month study into the challenges and opportunities within the country’s criminal justice system, uniting key leaders in the justice sector to collaboratively address these pressing issues.
This initiative was part of the broader FCDO-funded Security and Justice programme delivered by Tetra Tech under the UK Integrated Security Fund. In partnership with the British High Commission Malé, our work aims to strengthen and transform the security and justice sector in the Maldives.
A milestone gathering
Unlocking Justice was a significant event organised and delivered by David Wells, our Institutional Development and Justice Reform Expert, and Joe Holmes, Maldives Security and Justice Criminal Justice Adviser. Held at the Kurumba Resort, the event featured a remarkable assembly of high-level representatives from all justice institutions, underscoring the importance of collaborative governance and strategic leadership in unifying the Maldives’ justice sector.
The day commenced with opening remarks from the British High Commissioner, His Excellency Nick Low, and the Attorney General, His Excellency Uz Ahmed Usham, setting the stage for a keynote address by the Honourable Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan. Throughout the event, expert panels facilitated the discussions on key topics such as judicial leadership and the integration of digital initiatives within the justice system, reinforcing a shared commitment to reform.
Our team members in attendance shared valuable findings and recommendations from their extensive consultations and research, laying the groundwork for actionable reforms based on the perspectives of judicial actors in the Maldives. The conference culminated in a landmark agreement to establish a standing body of justice sector leaders dedicated to driving systemic improvements.
Paving the way for a more transparent and effective justice system
At the heart of this conference was a critical question: in a system that is generally well-resourced and staffed by educated and motivated individuals, why does it struggle with the top 1% of crimes, i.e., complex, organised crime?
While the Maldives’ institutional performance is impressive, Joe Holmes emphasised that the effectiveness of the system relies on the collective impact of its components rather than the performance of separate parts. “It is not enough for institutions to celebrate individual successes; the Maldivian public deserves systems-level results that enhance justice and security as a whole,” he commented.
By bringing together criminal justice leaders to analyse contributions from those core institutions and agree on a way forward that prioritises the system and the public service it provides, this collaborative investigation of the Maldivian justice system aimed to uncover how the system functions and where it can be improved.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Programme Director Jamal Abbasi highlighted the conference as a testament to the UK and Tetra Tech’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the Maldivian justice system. “With the support of British High Commission Malé, this initiative represents the result of two years of dedicated expert collaboration with key institutions across the justice sector by Tetra Tech’s Governance, Security and Justice practice,” Jamal stated.
Joe Holmes, Maldives Security and Justice Criminal Justice Adviser, presenting at the Unlocking Justice event.
H.E. Nick Low, British High Commissioner to Maldives, giving his opening remarks.