Ministry of Gender and Family has established child friendly interview rooms at the Children Service Centres in the islands of Viligilli of Gaafu Alifu atoll and Thinadhoo of Gaafu Dhaalu atoll.
Establishing the child friendly interview rooms was a collaborative effort of the ministry with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Maldives and Maldives Police Service, according to the Ministry of Gender and Family.
While the Minister of Gender and Family, Zenysha Shaheed Zaki inaugurated the child friendly interview room in Villigili Island, Minister of State at the Ministry of Gender and Family, Dr. Marium Jabyn inaugurated the child friendly interview room in Thinadhoo Island.
Addressing the inaugural function, the Minister of Gender and Family revealed, the administration aims to establish such child friendly interview rooms in the Children Service Centres established throughout the country.
The establishment of child-friendly rooms in Children Service Centres across the atolls is part of the efforts by the ministry to create a suitable environment to interview child victims of violence, abuse and neglect and strengthen relevant investigations.
A child-friendly interview room boasts audio-visual technology and provides children with physical and psychological safety, according to the Gender Ministry. The facilities, designed to cater for children of different age groups, aim to minimize the trauma experienced by children during the investigation process