First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has urged women to play a significant role in the policymaking process of the country.

The First Lady made these remarks while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the 'Ranhiru Dharubaaru'.

In her speech, the First Lady highlighted the significance of women's empowerment in the development of a nation. She stated that while there are more women in various occupations and civil services in the country, the number of men engaged in higher-level leadership is more.

She emphasized on the importance of changing these problems and expressed optimism that there would be discussions regarding the key challenges encountered by women and potential solutions through 'Ranhiru Dharubaaru'.

'Ranhiru Dharubaaru' is a two-day participatory forum aiming to provide an organized and comprehensive venue for Maldivian women councilors to debate gender-based issues and concerns linked to public involvement. Each day will focus on a different theme topic from those listed above, allowing for in-depth research and analysis.

The forum was held in collaboration with the Local Government Authority (LGA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Maldives with the support of UK Aid from the British people. 46 participants represented cities, atolls, and women's development committees.