Placing children in state care is not the solution: President

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that placing children in state care is not the solution for the problems they face.

The president made the statement at the opening ceremony of the Child Rights Symposium, on Wednesday.

During his remarks, President Solih highlighted that that placing children in state care is not a tenable solution to address the problems they face.

The President said that healthy family ties are crucial for children's development and safety. He noted that state care is not a viable substitute for a parents’ love, no matter how compassionate the care provided.

The President highlighted that placing the children with relatives is the best option for them and that maintaining these ties would strengthen familial bonds.

President Solih noted that the administration undertakes many programs aimed at fostering better domestic relations. He noted that the children placed in Kudakudhinge Hiyaa and Fiyavathi in Hulhumale' have now been relocated to secure facilities provided by the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Social Services to home children on six islands in order to provide them with a more familiar environment.

Additionally, the President noted that there are various areas in which children are vulnerable, such as drug addiction, and that they must be protected from such risks.

Stating that the discussions will help in identifying the challenges faced in protecting the rights of Children, President Solih highlighted that the symposium is being held at a crucial time.

The Child Rights Symposium held in association with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the Children's Ombudsperson's Office of Maldives. The event will be held from 14–15 September, 2022, at Crossroads Maldives.

At the opening ceremony, a book about the Symposium was presented to the President.