The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has issued a call for staff recruitment at the Children's Residential Treatment Center located in Haa Alif atoll's Hoarafushi.

Various positions including assistant counselor, program officer, senior juvenile justice officer, workers, and child care attendants are open for application, with a deadline set for 12 pm on April 18.

Established under the Juvenile Justice Act, the centralized treatment center aims to provide care for children living in environments that may predispose them to criminal behavior.

Despite the law coming into effect in 2019, two crucial centers have remained inactive.

Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih initiated the establishment of the Children's Residential Treatment Center in Hoarafushi and a halfway house in Dhaalu atoll's Kudahuvadhoo.

However, the unused state of the Kudahuvadhoo center has prompted the current administration to repurpose the Hoarafushi center into a residential treatment facility.

Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan emphasized the necessity of completing the first stage of treatment before transitioning children to halfway houses.

Minister Ihusan stated plans to operationalize the Hoarafushi center within the coming weeks to ensure the continuity of the treatment process.

The Juvenile Justice Act mandates state custody for at-risk children, with provision for long-term residential treatment.

To fulfill this requirement, the government has decided to establish a dedicated long-term residence care facility for children until they reach 18 years of age.