Women & Democracy celebrates a decade of impact, focusing on LCE 2026

Women & Democracy (W&D) marked its 10th Anniversary celebration, commemorating a decade of efforts to strengthen women’s leadership, gender equality, and democratic participation in the Maldives.

The event highlighted W&D’s growth from a simple vision to becoming one of the nation's largest women's organizations, currently boasting over 1,000 signed members and a network with focal points across all 20 atolls.

W&D’s various initiatives, from flagship programs like WiP4 to economic empowerment training, have directly benefited over 8,000 Maldivian women.

The celebration, attended by key guests including the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, H.E. Gwen Temmel, Chief Guest, and the High Commissioner of New Zealand, H.E. David Pine, Special Guest, featured a keynote by Safaath Ahmed Zahir, Executive President & Co-Founder.

A major moment was the official launch of the "Women Hopefuls of LCE 2026" Mentorship Program. This initiative is a nationwide effort to mentor, train, and support women contesting the upcoming Local Council Elections of 2026. The mentorship platform is supported by the New Zealand High Commission (NZD) and is designed to encourage women to run for office.

Reflecting on the mission, Ms. Safaath stated, "A democracy cannot truly thrive unless half its population is meaningfully represented."

The event concluded with a recognition ceremony honoring the dedication of partners, donors, long-serving members, and volunteers.