Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Shidhatha Shareef has assured the Commonwealth will provide cooperation in social activities conducted in Maldives.
Speaking after a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretariat Staff Team on an assessment mission to evaluate the Maldives' membership application to the organisation, Gender Minister Shidhatha expressed gratitude towards Commonwealth in the development of Maldives. The gender minister also stated she is assured the commonwealth with assist Maldives in the social and educational development.
During the meeting, the minister informed the technical team on the efforts of the administration to ensure social protection to the neglected population. The minister also disseminated information on the efforts exerted to collect suggestions from the public, especially from children and women when formulating policies. She also spoke on the women representation in the cabinet expressing hope the 19th Parliament will increase the representation.
The Maldives first joined the Commonwealth in 1982. It left the organisation in October 2016 after 34 years as a member state. Following the inauguration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Maldives submitted an expression of interest to re-join the Commonwealth, which was welcomed by its Secretary-General Patricia Scotland.
The government of Maldives is now in the process of fulfilling all the membership requirements to re-join the organisation.