March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day each year. The United Nations has allocated this year’s motto to be ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.’
Commemorated since 1911, International Women’s Day seeks to expand women’s roles in economic, political and societal spheres, while also combatting violence against women and demanding equal rights for women.
This day aims to assist women overcome challenges faced in all stages of life, with the help of relevant authorities, to highlight valuable services women have contributed to the country in various fields, as well as to bring about equal opportunities for women and uplift them to their rightful places in society. This day also encourages establishing a safe space for women, away from physical, mental and sexual violence.
The United Nations has adopted a Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), defining and allocating measures to protect against discrimination. This bill of rights designed to protect women has also been adopted by the Maldives.
While speaking at his third Presidential Address, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu detailed the administration’s plans to expand women’s roles in society. He noted that the government prioritises increasing women’s participation and facilitating means of income for women.
To further empower the Women’s Development Committees being established in islands and cities, a constitutional amendment has been proposed to decentralise administrative fields in the nation. This change increases the committee budget from five to 10 percent of the council budget, as finalised by the government.
“The President of the Women’s Development Committee will be allocated by a direct vote by all citizens, and full constitutional support will be given to carry out their duties.” President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated.
The government has facilitated women’s participation in the job market, by increasing opportunities and setting up a system to allow work from home.
To financially empower women, special loan schemes have been introduced for female entrepreneurs, with positive results being observed. An increasing number of women have been taking advantage of this opportunity to launch their own business, reaping the benefits of this venture.
While half the population of the Maldives consists of women, data from the Civil Service Commission of Maldives shows that majority of civil service workers are women. Furthermore, a great portion of students obtaining higher education are women.
Despite the increased role of women in employment, balancing work and childcare remains to be a major obstacle for women. The Parliamentary Committee on National Development and Heritage has passed a constitutional amendment, allocating time for childcare during work hours for children up to two years of age, in a bid to establish a permanent solution to this problem. This is an important step to facilitate women’s empowerment.