Child abuse cases escalate: 93 reported last month alone

The Ministry of Social and Family Development has reported a worrying increase in child abuse cases, with 93 incidents recorded last month alone.

Of the 93 cases reported, 24 involved sexual abuse, closely followed by 21 cases of physical assault. Additionally, 17 cases of child neglect were documented in July.

Domestic violence cases also saw a high number, with 57 reported last month.

The trend of increasing child abuse cases continues, as 97 such cases were reported in May.

The Gender Ministry also received 57 reports of domestic violence in July. Of these, 49 cases involved women, while the remaining eight were against men. These cases included:

• One case of rape

• Seven cases of sexual assault

• 29 cases of physical assault

• 13 cases of mental abuse

• One case of negligence

• One case of sexual harassment

• One case of economic and financial abuse

• Two cases of intimidation

2025 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ޖުލައި މަހުގައި އިޖުތިމާޢީ އަދި ޢާއިލީ ތަރައްޤީއާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާއަށް ރިޕޯޓުކޮށްފައިވާ މައްސަލަތަކުގެ ތަފާސްހިސާބުތައް. pic.twitter.com/TfgyTcNAP1

— Ministry of Social and Family Development (@MSFDmv) August 25, 2025

As of July, 152 children were in state custody, comprising 82 boys and 70 girls.

In July, six children (four girls and two boys) were taken into state custody. During the same period, one child was reunited with their family, and another was adopted.

Child abuse remains a persistent issue in Maldivian society, with a particularly high number of child sexual abuse cases reported to the ministry.

Many individuals convicted of these heinous acts are currently incarcerated. A website has been established to provide information on child sexual abusers.