Gender Ministry, FPA launch virtual training for FCSC staff

The Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services, in collaboration with the Family Protection Authority (FPA), initiated a virtual training programme for employees of Family and Children's Service Centres (FCSC) on Sunday.

Intended to convey information on ways to stop domestic violence, the two-day programme was officially inaugurated by Gender Minister Aishath Mohamed Didi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Aisha expressed the necessity of boosting awareness across a wide spectrum of ages, including school children as well as senior citizens, and highlighted the importance of innovation in such endeavours. She also urged the FCSC employees to involve as many people as possible in efforts to conduct campaign activities.

A total of 33 employees from 18 FCSC across the country are participating in the virtual programme launched as part of the gender ministry's "Geveshi Gulhun", a three-month campaign to raise awareness concerning domestic violence.

According to FPA statistics, a total of 111 domestic violence cases were reported over the months of April, May and June, with over 70 percent of cases involving violence against women.

Public discontent remains high concerning the government's meagre record of arresting and convicting perpetrators of sexual offences despite several promises to support the rights of children and women.

Protesters demanding justice for rape and sexual assault victims held demonstrations across July, following an upsurge of reported cases and alleged misconduct of police during investigations.

Participants of one such protest, the #JaagaEhNei movement, rallied against impunity and selective justice while Voice of Children (VOC)’s organisers called for police reform.

Prior to the street side activities, a collective of gender equality advocates, originating from Family Legal Clinic (FLC), Nufoshey and Uthema Maldives, launched the #FundOurSafety initiative, voicing demands to declare rape and sexual offences as serious criminal offences and reallocate state funds for the protection of victims.