Policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment

Maizan Institute of Innovation & Technology
Last Updated: 18 September 2026

1. Purpose

Maizan Institute of Innovation & Technology (MIIT) is committed to maintaining an environment in which students, staff, instructors, volunteers, contractors, visitors and other members of the MIIT community are treated with dignity and are protected from sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

MIIT does not tolerate sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment by any person working for, representing or participating in MIIT activities.

This Policy establishes standards for prevention, reporting, response and accountability.

It applies to conduct occurring in person, online or through other communication channels connected with MIIT.

2. Scope

This Policy applies to:

  • employees;

  • teachers and instructors;

  • trainers and facilitators;

  • volunteers;

  • interns and trainees;

  • contractors and consultants;

  • programme partners;

  • visitors and guests;

  • students; and

  • any other person participating in or representing MIIT activities.

The Policy applies to conduct occurring:

  • on MIIT premises;

  • at schools, training locations and events;

  • during educational programmes;

  • during field activities, competitions and exhibitions;

  • during work-related or programme-related travel;

  • through email, messaging applications and social media;

  • through online learning platforms;

  • through video calls and other digital communication; and

  • in any other context where the conduct is connected to MIIT.

3. Definitions

Sexual exploitation

  • Sexual exploitation means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including obtaining financial, social or other benefit from the sexual exploitation of another person.

  • Where a child is involved, any sexual exploitation of that child is prohibited.

Sexual abuse

  • Sexual abuse means actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

  • Any sexual activity between an adult working for or representing MIIT and a child is prohibited.

Sexual harassment

  • Sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual conduct, comments, advances, requests, messages, images, gestures or other behaviour of a sexual nature that causes a person to feel intimidated, humiliated, threatened, offended or otherwise subjected to an unsafe or hostile environment.

  • Sexual harassment may consist of a single serious incident or repeated conduct.

  • It may occur in person or through digital communication.

4. Zero Tolerance

MIIT prohibits sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and sexual harassment.

A person's position, seniority, employment status, professional reputation or relationship with MIIT does not exempt them from this Policy.

MIIT will take allegations seriously and will respond through appropriate procedures.

5. Protection of Children

Because MIIT provides educational programmes for children and young people, all adults working with or representing MIIT have a heightened responsibility to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

An adult working for or representing MIIT must never:

  • engage in sexual activity with a child;

  • make sexual comments to a child;

  • send sexual messages or images to a child;

  • request sexual images from a child;

  • engage in sexualised conversations with a child;

  • establish an inappropriate romantic or sexual relationship with a student;

  • exploit a child's dependency, vulnerability or trust for sexual purposes;

  • encourage a child to keep an inappropriate relationship secret; or

  • use an educational, professional or other position of authority to facilitate sexual conduct.

The prohibition applies regardless of whether the child appears to consent.

6. Abuse of Power and Authority

MIIT recognises that sexual misconduct can occur where one person has authority, influence or control over another.

Staff and other persons in positions of authority must not use their position to obtain sexual attention, sexual contact, personal relationships or other sexual benefit.

Particular care must be taken in relationships involving teachers, instructors, supervisors, administrators and students.

7. Prohibited Conduct

Examples of prohibited conduct include:

  • unwanted sexual touching;

  • sexual comments or jokes directed at another person;

  • sexual gestures;

  • sexual messages or images;

  • repeated unwanted requests for dates or sexual contact;

  • requests for sexual favours;

  • displaying sexually explicit material in an MIIT setting;

  • making participation in an educational or professional opportunity conditional on sexual attention or contact;

  • threatening professional or educational consequences following rejection of sexual conduct;

  • spreading sexual rumours;

  • sharing intimate images without consent;

  • recording or photographing a person in a private or intimate situation without consent;

  • online sexual harassment;

  • grooming;

  • sexual exploitation;

  • sexual abuse; and

  • any other sexual conduct prohibited by applicable law.

This list is not exhaustive.

8. Consent

Consent must be voluntary, informed and freely given.

Consent cannot be assumed from silence, previous interaction, clothing, friendship, a previous relationship or participation in an activity.

A person may withdraw consent at any time.

Where there is an abuse of authority, coercion, intimidation, exploitation or other circumstances that undermine genuine choice, apparent agreement may not constitute meaningful consent.

A child cannot be treated as responsible for an adult's decision to engage in prohibited sexual conduct.

9. Professional Boundaries

Adults working with students must maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

MIIT staff and associates should use approved communication channels when communicating with students.

Private or personal communication with students should be avoided unless necessary and appropriate to the educational or safeguarding context.

Adults should not:

  • pursue romantic or sexual relationships with students;

  • request intimate photographs;

  • engage in sexualised conversations;

  • use personal accounts to develop inappropriate relationships with students;

  • meet students privately without a legitimate reason and appropriate safeguards;

  • give inappropriate gifts or favours;

  • encourage secrecy concerning their relationship with a student; or

  • use their authority to create emotional or sexual dependency.

10. Digital Conduct

This Policy applies equally to digital conduct.

Sexual harassment, exploitation or abuse may occur through:

  • WhatsApp or other messaging services;

  • email;

  • social media;

  • online classrooms;

  • video calls;

  • gaming or collaborative platforms;

  • direct messages;

  • photographs or videos; and

  • other digital communication.

MIIT staff must maintain the same professional boundaries online that are expected in person.

11. Prevention

MIIT will take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

These measures may include:

  • communicating this Policy to staff and associates;

  • providing appropriate training;

  • maintaining professional codes of conduct;

  • incorporating safeguarding and harassment considerations into recruitment;

  • establishing accessible reporting mechanisms;

  • assessing risks associated with educational activities;

  • maintaining appropriate supervision arrangements;

  • providing clear expectations concerning digital communication; and

  • reviewing incidents and identified risks to improve prevention measures.

Prevention is an organisational responsibility and should not be placed solely on individuals who may be at risk of misconduct.

12. Reporting a Concern

Anyone may report a concern regarding sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment.

A report may be made by:

  • a person who experienced the conduct;

  • a person who witnessed the conduct;

  • a parent or legal guardian;

  • a student;

  • a colleague;

  • a programme partner; or

  • another person who has reasonable grounds for concern.

A person does not need to establish that misconduct occurred before making a report.

Reports should be made as soon as reasonably possible.

13. Responding to Reports

MIIT will seek to respond to reports promptly, fairly and confidentially.

The response may include:

  • assessing immediate safety concerns;

  • taking measures to protect affected persons;

  • documenting the concern;

  • appointing an appropriate person to manage the matter;

  • conducting or commissioning an appropriate investigation;

  • referring the matter to a competent external authority where required;

  • taking administrative or disciplinary action where appropriate; and

  • providing information about available support.

MIIT will not conduct an internal process in a manner that obstructs a criminal investigation or other lawful external process.

14. Survivor-Centred Response

MIIT will seek to respond to affected persons with dignity and respect.

People reporting sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment should not be blamed for the conduct they experienced.

MIIT will seek to avoid unnecessary repetition of a person's account and will limit information sharing to those who need it for safeguarding, support, investigation or legal purposes.

15. Confidentiality

Information concerning an allegation or report will be handled sensitively.

Information will be shared only where reasonably necessary for:

  • protecting an individual;

  • responding to the concern;

  • conducting an appropriate investigation;

  • obtaining professional or safeguarding support;

  • complying with legal requirements; or

  • preventing further harm.

Absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where disclosure is necessary to protect a child or another person or where disclosure is required by law.

16. Protection from Retaliation

MIIT prohibits retaliation against anyone who:

  • reports a concern in good faith;

  • seeks help;

  • participates in an investigation;

  • provides information;

  • supports another person making a report; or

  • raises a safeguarding concern.

Retaliation may itself constitute misconduct and may result in disciplinary action.

17. False Reports

MIIT recognises that allegations may sometimes be made in error or may not be substantiated.

A report made honestly and in good faith will not be treated as misconduct simply because it cannot be proven.

Knowingly making a deliberately false allegation for the purpose of harming another person may be addressed through appropriate disciplinary procedures.

18. Conflicts of Interest

Any person responsible for receiving, investigating or managing a complaint must disclose a conflict of interest.

A person who is the subject of a complaint must not be responsible for investigating or determining the outcome of that complaint.

Where appropriate, MIIT may appoint an independent person or external investigator.

19. Disciplinary and Other Action

Where misconduct is established, MIIT may take appropriate action in accordance with applicable law, employment arrangements, contractual obligations and internal procedures.

Possible action may include:

  • formal warning;

  • removal from duties;

  • suspension;

  • termination of employment or engagement;

  • removal from a programme;

  • termination of a partnership or contract; or

  • referral to an appropriate external authority.

Where conduct may constitute a criminal offence, MIIT may refer the matter to the appropriate authorities.

20. No Retaliatory Settlement

MIIT will not require a person who reports sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment to remain silent as a condition of receiving support or protection.

Any resolution of a complaint must be consistent with applicable law and safeguarding obligations.

21. Support

Where appropriate and reasonably available, MIIT may provide information about relevant support services to a person affected by sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment.

The nature of available support may depend on the circumstances and the resources available.

22. Responsibilities of Staff and Associates

All staff and associates have a responsibility to:

  • understand this Policy;

  • maintain professional boundaries;

  • treat students and colleagues with dignity;

  • report concerns appropriately;

  • cooperate with safeguarding processes;

  • protect confidential information; and

  • avoid conduct that creates an inappropriate power imbalance or safeguarding risk.

Managers and persons in positions of authority have additional responsibility to ensure that concerns are not ignored or suppressed.

23. Monitoring and Review

MIIT will periodically review this Policy and its implementation.

Reviews should consider reported concerns, organisational risks, changes in programmes, changes in applicable law and recognised good practice.

The Policy should be reviewed at least every two years or sooner where circumstances require.

24. Contact

Concerns relating to sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or sexual harassment should be reported through MIIT's designated safeguarding or complaints channel.

Maizan Institute of Innovation & Technology (MIIT)
H. Gaadhoo Building
Boduthakurufaanu Magu
Malé, Maldives

Telephone: +960 3322101
WhatsApp: +960 7822201
Email: admin@miitmaldives.com

Where MIIT establishes a dedicated safeguarding or complaints email address, that address should replace or supplement the general contact details above.