Minister: Female victims of sexual violence increasing

Minister of Gender and Family, Aminath Zenysha Shaheed Zaki has stressed the number of females who fall victim to acts of gender violence, especially sexual violence, was on the rise.

She raised the concern in her speech at the function held at Dharubaaruge this Wednesday morning to make International Women’s Day.

Minister Zenysha said that girls across the world faced challenges and criminal acts of violence and abuse against them based on gender.

She said Ministry of Gender and Family dealt with multiple cases of child abuse each month, out of which number of female victims of sexual abuse was significantly high.

Zenysha said that though the number of females who achieve high marks in primary and higher education was higher than males, the number of females working at policy-level posts was comparatively low.

“It is the responsibility of everyone in the community to raise awareness among the community regarding violence against girls and empowering girls fight against acts of violence. Work needs to be done to boost confidence of girls who complete their education so they aim at policy-level posts,” said Minister Zenysha.

She said that half of the Maldivian population was made up of females, and that there was still much to be done to empower girls and women.

She said that women needed the support of males and family members in their efforts to attain success in their work life.

She also said that areas of work with low female participation needed to be identified, and work needed to be done to boost the number of females working in such areas.

Minister Zenysha said women needed to be brave, educated, empowered and aware members of the community.

She said that creating educated and empowered women would not only be beneficial to the women and their families, but the community and country as a whole.

“All hardworking women deserve respect and dignity by the society,” said Minister Zenysha.