Watch List for 2008 when it enacted comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation in July 2007; however, it did not take
action against exploitative employers or labor traffickers in 2007;
the government has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)

Illicit drugs:

drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties;
heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand
remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for
domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Maldives

Introduction
Maldives

Background:

The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under
British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after
independence. President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM dominated the islands'
political scene for 30 years, elected to six successive terms by
single-party referendums. Following riots in the capital Male in
August 2004, the president and his government pledged to embark upon
democratic reforms including a more representative political system
and expanded political freedoms. Progress was sluggish, however, and
many promised reforms were slow to be realized. Nonetheless,
political parties were legalized in 2005. In June 2008, a
constituent assembly - termed the "Special Majlis" - finalized a new
constitution, which was ratified by the president in August. The
first-ever presidential elections under a multi-candidate,
multi-party system were held in October 2008. GAYOOM was defeated in
a runoff poll by Mohamed NASHEED, a political activist who had been
jailed several years earlier by the former regime. Challenges facing
the new president include strengthening democracy and combating
poverty and drug abuse.

Geography
Maldives

Location:

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest
of India

Geographic coordinates:

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

644 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; d