Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Shidhatha Shareef has expressed Maldives lack in empowering women not because it lack the necessary laws, but for failing to implement the relevant legislations.
Speaking at the two-day Symposium on Women’s Political Participation held by Transparency Maldives and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Gender Minister Shidhatha said highlighted there are very suitable laws and regulations formulated as part of the efforts in empowering women in Maldives. However, she noted although a Gender Equality Act was passed 8 years ago, women have not been significantly empowered in areas such as politics and economy.
Highlighting the female population is almost equal to the male population in Maldives, the gender minister noted the role of women in politics is very low, as the recent parliamentary elections have shown.