A national campaign to protect children from abuse has been officially launched by the Family Protection Authority (FPA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The joint initiative, aimed at creating a happy and safe society for children, was inaugurated at a ceremony in Male’ attended by key figures and child welfare advocates.
The campaign dubbed “Udhuhilan” was unveiled by FPA CEO Aminath Shirani Naeem and UNICEF Representative for the Maldives Edward Addai, comes as alarming statistics reveal the extent of child abuse in the country.
"Last year, 722 domestic violence cases were reported, and a staggering 315 of them were related to child abuse. The reported cases included physical, mental, verbal, and sexual abuse, with a significant portion involving children witnessing or hearing abusive acts,” Shirani revealed.
The initiative, according to Shirani, is designed to address the root causes of domestic violence and child abuse through a multifaceted approach. A crucial component of the campaign is raising public awareness and building a strong community network to prevent and report such issues, she added.
Speaking at the campaign launch, UNICEF Representative Addai highlighted that according to UNICEF data, around 70 percent of children experience some form of violence in their lives.
“40 percent experience physical abuse. 30 percent experience psychological abuse. These are scars that last forever. And a lot of cases go unreported," he explained.
"Our resolve should be to ensure that every child grows up in love and safety.”
The campaign will feature a range of awareness programmes and activities tailored for different age groups. The goal is to not only respond to abuse but also to identify and intervene in cases before serious harm occurs.
Additionally, the campaign seeks to establish a more effective system for reporting and investigating domestic violence cases and providing support for child survivors.
Both the FPA and UNICEF emphasised the importance of community-wide participation. By engaging all members of society, the campaign aims to foster a generation that will be vocal in preventing abuse and ensuring a safer future for all children. Many activities are planned throughout the campaign to achieve these objectives and to bring the community together for this critical cause.