FLC, UNDP, Ooredoo Maldives launch 'Art for Action' campaign against GBV

Local NGO 'Family Legal Clinic' (FLC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Maldives, and telecom giant Ooredoo Maldives, on Monday, launched the art campaign 'Art for Action' to commemorate the international '16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence'.

The campaign will provide a platform for individuals to utilize any medium to raise awareness and empower women through artwork.

According to a joint press release, the initiative hopes to receive ideas on how to collaboratively establish justice for survivors of gender-based violence and to depict the artists' envisioned reality for women where they are safe from such acts.

Interested participants are advised to submit their entry as a photograph or digital scan of the artwork to '[email protected]' with their full name, contact details, age and a short description of the art, before the deadline for submission on November 14.

A panel consisting of FLC, UNDP Maldives and Ooredoo Maldives will select a total of 16 winning artworks to be published on their social media platforms, as well as Ooredoo Maldives' LED display.

Amid multiple reports of child sexual abuse cases this year, public ire continues to soar over 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 throughout the year in front of Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services as well as the roads of capital Male', following an upsurge of reported cases and alleged misconduct of police during investigations.

The police have continually urged the public to report all such cases to the police's Family and Child Protection Wing at +960 3000600 or the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services at 1412.