Dhunya: Role of women in politics significant despite challenges

State Minister of Ministry of Health, Dhunya Maumoon has commented that the role of women in Maldivian politics was significant despite challenges.

Dhunya made the comment during her speech as chief guest of the regional conference of South Asian Women’s Alliance (SAWA) being held in Islamabad, Pakistan.

In her speech at the inauguration of the conference, Dhunya spoke about the strategies implemented in Maldives to empower women and protect women’s rights, including signing

The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) treaty and passing Gender Equality Act.

Dhunya said that despite the progress, women still faced various challenges in politics due to social conventions, and deep-instilled perceptions regarding traditional role of women.

She said the challenges existed especially in policy making level of State and government institutions.

Dhunya said that one of the biggest challenges faced by Maldivian women in politics was the geographic makeup of the country which made transport difficult.

“It’s difficult in Maldives to travel from one island to the other to participate in party meetings and trainings. This is especially challenging due to the role women play in families,” said Dhunya.

Dhunya said that despite the challenges, women played a significant role in grassroots of all Maldivian political parties, and that the role of women in politics continued to increase.

“I believe in creating an environment in the community and parties within which women can work in politics,” she said.

Dhunya noted that during her time as Minister of Foreign Affairs, majority of Maldivian diplomats were women. And that the Maldivian delegation which attended the review of

CESAW treaty in Geneva in 2015 were all women.