the 2000 UN TIP Protocol, i.e. the Protocol to Prevent, Supress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, with those laws failing to implement "standard operating procedures" for victim identification and protection.37 Concerning local practices identified in the US report included employers holding employee passports (including Government departments) and indications of corruption to the benefit of local traffickers.38 In light of these findings, further improvements to local laws appear necessary to address the risk of the Maldives as a location for human trafficking and forced labour, including steps to address potential corruption. Recommendations 33. Based on the above analysis, the co-submitting organisations urge reviewing States to make the following recommendations to the Maldives: I. Reform Maldivian law to remove all provisions that discriminate on the basis of religion, (including reforming article 9(d) of the Maldivian Constitution, which bars non-Muslims from being Maldivian citizens). II. Ensure that all children born on the territory of the Maldives, are registered at birth without discrimination, including children whose parents are non-Muslim. III. Take all necessary steps to address human trafficking and forced labour risks. IV. Withdraw its reservations to the ICCPR (on article 18 – freedom of thought, conscience and religion); CEDAW (on article 16 – equality in marriage and family relations), the CRC (on all clauses related to adoption and article 14.1 - freedom of thought, conscience and religion). V. Accede to and fully implement the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Stateless and the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. 37United States Department of State, 2018: Trafficking in Persons Report: Maldives (28 June 2018), 290,<https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/282802.pdf>. 38 Ibid 290. 8