Former Health Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela has stated that women face several challenges in the Maldives and these challenges are faced because of a few people’s beliefs in religious extremism.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 9th “Women, Peace and Security Forum” of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) which started at Bandos Island Resort today. Shakeela has stated that although laws have been established to ensure women’s rights in the Maldives, there are several issues ensuring the rights are given in the best possible way.
“Maldives was one of the first countries in South Asia to draft a constitution. It was in 1932. The purpose of the laws is to empower women politically and to advance them in the political arena. The Ministry of Gender was established in 1993 to achieve this goal Women’s development committees have been formed in all villages of Sri Lanka to empower women politically. The Family Law and the Gender Equality Act have guaranteed women’s rights,” Shakeela explained.
Shakeela has been a well-known women’s rights advocate empowering women as the President of Addu Women’s Association and she always fought for the rights of all women in the Maldives. Shakeela has questioned whether all these laws pertaining to women’s rights in the Maldives are being implemented in the best possible manner.
“I would say no. I would say that the laws are enforced selectively, we have failed to enforce and enforce them. and to monitor the implementation of the laws,” Shakeela said.
Being the first-ever forum for global peace and security in the Maldives, the forum was organised by members of The International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), Addu Women’s Association (AWA) and Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL). The forum is planned to be conducted for 4 days.
The forum will bring together women peacekeepers from 40 countries to discuss global peace and security issues with Maldivian government officials, civil society leaders and international diplomats. Special discussions and sessions will be held on how communities, individuals, associations, networks and peace and security efforts can return to the past.
ICAN works to promote sustainable peace in countries experiencing conflict, extremism, war and political pressure. The American volunteer organization was founded in 2006. The association’s first ICAN Forum was held in 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. This is the 9th time the forum is being held. This is the first year that the forum has been held together since COVID-1.
