Youth have been side-lined due to neglect by state: President

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has stated that side-lined youth are the result of neglect by the state.

Speaking at a special ceremony held on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, President Solih referred to this year's theme-'Youth Standing Up for Human Rights' and stated that the youth play a huge role in protecting human rights, but this can only be achieved when youth that understand the value of human life take the lead.

As such, he highlighted the areas and issues related to youth such as drug abuse and attributed the rise in side-lined youth to years of neglect to youth issues by the state.

President Solih gave assurance that his administration will not abandon victims of drug abuse, instead rehabilitating them and returning them to the community as a a contributing member of society.

Drawing attention to the county's environment, President Solih claimed that the most priority, in the field of human rights advocacy, needs to be given to the environment. He declared that since the earth is essentially our home, the right to shelter can only be ensured by protecting the earth's environment.

According to the President, the biggest threat to the environment lies in single-use plastic waste. Hence, his administration has adopted environment-friendly policies, with special note to the most recent policy that banned single-use plastics.

Moreover, the president highlighted the challenges to protecting the environment in Maldives. He added that fiber work in inhabited islands, workshops located near households, and garages cause many life-threatening health issues in addition to polluting the environment.