Gov't believes in equal opportunities for women across all sectors, says president

The government believes in equal opportunities for women across all sectors of the society, claims President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

In a statement made in commemoration of International Women’s Day on Monday, the president stated that the government remains to committed to enhance efforts to increase women’s participation within the civil service.

Highlighting that the government remains committed to enhance the role of women at top positions as well as enhancing their participation in decision making, the president noted that his administration has ratified amendments to the decentralization act which paves way for broader participation from women in governance.

The Decentralization Act was previously amended with provisions to allocate one third of local council seats for women. The Election Commission of Maldives (ECM) revealed that a total of 929 seats will be available on women's development committees.

With this being said, the president expressed joy that these goals are being realized, with the upcoming Local Council Elections, slated for April 10.

The amendment will ensure the active participation of women in the governance of administrative divisions of the local councils, the president said.

Further, the president shed light on an important pledge by his administration, which is assisting female entrepreneurs to succeed by facilitating loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) run by women and added that his administration also prioritizes the security of adequate finances to support efforts to eradicate discriminatory social norms while working towards the advancement of women.

The fact that there is “still much to do” in the sphere of ensuring gender equality must be accepted even as the role of women in the society is celebrated, the president said.