Vice President Faisal Naseem says during the COVID-19 lockdown, the Government had established a designated hotline to urge victims of domestic abuse to report violence against them.
He said this in remarks on the International Day of Eliminating Violence Against Women, marked today, 25 November. In his remarks, he reiterated the Government’s ongoing efforts to prevent abuse and violence against women, stemming from its firm conviction in gender equality and human rights.
The Vice President highlighted that violence against women remains a serious problem throughout the world. In the Maldives, over one-third of women have suffered from some form of violence or abuse.
He further underlined that far too many perpetrators escape justice and that too many survivors still do not have easy access to the care and resources they need to rebuild their lives.
He noted that these are longstanding issues that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s Government has tasked itself with addressing, even more urgently now than before, in light of the increased reports of domestic violence following the restrictions imposed across the nation in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vice President Faisal Naseem said that during the lockdown, the Government had established a designated hotline to urge victims of domestic abuse to report violence against them.
He said that despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Government remains committed to implementing its plans to establish domestic shelters and safe-spaces for victims of abuse, to reform the criminal justice system to hold perpetrators accountable, and to changing mindsets and traditions which are harmful to women.
He concluded his statement by stating that the Maldives, along with our international partners, must do all that we can to ensure that women throughout the world are treated with respect and dignity and can live their lives without the fear of abuse.
