President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced today that the government is working on drafting an Anti-Bullying Act, under which bullying will be considered a legal offence carrying penalties. 

The tragic death of an 18-year-old girl at the Maldives National University dormitory Dhanaal last week led to a wide public discourse on bullying and its effects. Several people have taken to social media to share various stories of bullying faced by people they know.

The President addressed these concerns at his weekly press conference this morning, acknowledging that bullying is becoming more common and requires an urgent response. 

President Muizzu said that bullying involves several 'deep-rooted, interconnected' factors.

He stressed that bullying occurs not just amongst young children, but even amongst adults, adding that the government has been taking measures to prevent it. 

Although current laws allow action to be taken against bullying in certain circumstances, the government has now decided to take further action, he said. 

The President noted that the 2024 amendment to Article 6 of the Penal Code defines cyber-violence, including cyber-stalking, as a crime. Police have previously investigated such cases and forwarded it for prosecution, he said. 

The Attorney General's Office has now begun drafting an Anti-Bullying Act to take additional preventive measures and to define penalties for the offence, the President announced. 

He said the bill will be sent to parliament after consultations with relevant agencies, adding that he is confident it will help curb bullying in different settings. 

"We will clearly define acts of bullying in this law. How it is an offence. It will detail how the law will be applied. This will include in students and staff at schools and other educational facilities. Also included will be work environments and health facilities, and those who seek service there. The bill will be extensively in detail," the President said. 

The bill will also include a section on online bullying, including on social media and other platforms, he said. 

The bill will also mandate the introduction of policies in schools and other educational facilities setting out procedures for responding to bullying, speeding up disciplinary actions, and ensuring timely reporting of cases, the President said.