President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on local councils to strengthen support and assistance for Women’s Development Committees (WDCs).

President Solih stated this on Sunday, during the third session of the "Vivathi Raajje" conference.

The "Vivathi Raajje" conference is held in Ukulhas Island of Alif Alif Atoll, and the President chaired the third session held on Sunday, morning. This session was focused on the administration’s efforts to empower women, the inclusion of women, and the role of WDCs in the development of society.

During the session, the President urged local councils to address the issue of incommensurate working environments, raised by some of the WDCs. He highlighted that 77 different meetings were held with local councils and members of WDCs last year, and that one of the complaints noted during his meetings with some of the WDCs reflected the lack of support from local councils.

The President also highlighted the initiatives of his administration to empower women. He ratified amendments to the Decentralization Act in December 2019, allocating a third of council seats to women, which saw the election of 388 women to local councils. Coupled with the election of WDCs, the President said that women’s role in development is growing exponentially.

President Solih was joined on the panel by Minister of Defence Mariya Ahmed Didi, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer,Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services Aishath Mohamed Didi, Chief Executive Officer of the Local Government Authority (LGA) Fathimath Afshan Latheef, and Member of Parliament for Thulhaadhoo constituency and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Decentralisation Hisaan Hussain.

A presentation on Social Diversity and Climate Change Mitigation was also featured before the session, focusing on climate change and its detrimental effects on small island nations, adaptation, and strengthening social diversity.

The Viavathi Raajje conference, held in Ukulhas Island, is aimed at local council representatives and presidents of WDCs from the central atolls. It is also attended by ministers, policy executives from the President’s Office, and technical experts from various institutions.