VP: Govt. following through on pledges to establish safe spaces for victims of abuse

Vice President Faisal Naseem said on Wednesday that that eliminating all forms of violence against women remains a key priority, and that the current Maldivian administration is following through on its pledges to establish shelters and safe spaces for victims of abuse.

In his statement on occasion of International Day of Eliminating Violence Against Women, the Vice President said that the administration’s commitment to eliminating all forms of violence against women stems from its firm conviction in gender equality and human rights.

Faisal noted that the statistics show that over one in three women in Maldives experience some form of violence.

“To make matters worse, too often survivors cannot easily access the care and resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives, and far too many perpetrators escape justice,” he said.

He said that restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a spike in reports of violence against women.

Faisal said that addressing such longstanding issues are an integral part of the administration’s recovery and resilience efforts to build back stronger communities in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This administration is following through on its pledges to establish shelters and safe spaces for victims of abuse, and is committed to reforming the criminal justice system to hold perpetrators accountable, and to changing attitudes and traditions that are harmful to women,” he said.

Faisal said the administration is also committed to strengthening reporting mechanisms so that domestic abuse survivors will have recourse to justice.

“As we continue with our national efforts to eliminate violence against women, we remain mindful that this is an issue that crosses borders. There is no country or community that is unaffected by it. Today, on the International Day of Eliminating Violence Against Women, we must enhance our efforts to ensure that women in the Maldives, and women throughout the world, are treated with respect and dignity, and can live their lives without fear of abuse,” he said.