The government of the Maldives has called for stronger efforts to address challenges hindering women’s progress and empowerment. The statement was made by Foreign Secretary Ahmed Latheef during the International Conference on Women in Islam being held in Jeddah from November 6-8.
In his remarks, Foreign Secretary Latheef addressed the common misconceptions about Islam and women and noted that Islam elevates the status of women, advocates for women’s empowerment and assures the respect women deserve. He briefed the meeting on the advancements the Maldives has made in advancing women’s rights, including through necessary legal reforms.
In addition, Foreign Secretary Latheef noted the success of initiatives launched to ensure equal access to education, combat domestic violence against women and strengthen family relations. He also listed active engagement and leading role of the Maldives in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Women Development Organisation (WDO) as another achievement.
Concluding his remarks, Foreign Secretary Latheef called for stronger efforts to address challenges such as structural inequalities and sociocultural barriers that hinder women’s progress.