Minister of Defense and National Security, Mariya Didi has stressed on the need for wider and greater roles and opportunities for women in military.

In a video message aired as part of a panel discussion led by female Brigadier Generals and colonels from Canada, Liberia, Norway and Latvia during a side-event hosted by the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) on the Role of Women Leaders in the Military and Peacekeeping, organized by Latvia and co-hosted by the Maldives, the Maldives minister briefed the international community on the Maldivian government’s efforts to promote gender equality within the country’s military.

Minister Mariya stressed on the need for stronger leadership opportunities for women as well as broader and wider roles for women in military, shedding light on research findings from international experts in the field of gender equality in the armed forces.

Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has recruited more female soldiers over the past two and a half years than any other time in the institution’s history of 128 years, under the proactive growth-centered approach of the incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in ensuring gender equality, Mariya noted, adding that this was done using targeted recruitment strategies.

Further, a proud minister highlighted that a record number of female soldiers in the Maldives obtained promotions during January 2021.

Mariya added that the government of Maldives has strong belief that interactions between both genders must be combined to effectively deal with contemporary threats.

While MNDF began recruiting female soldiers just 32 years ago, Mariya stated that three officers recently made history by becoming the first female soldiers to make Lieutenant Colonels.

The Maldivian minister went on to note that only then did the institution’s Advisory Council approved the rank so that women can sit on the esteemed council for the first time.

“We have included female representation in all executive boards within the organization, and are giving unprecedented training and development opportunities to female soldiers” Mariya Didi, Minister of Defense and National Security.

While the decades-old norm saw only male cadets given the honor to attend the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK at the expense of unexploited female talent, Mariya highlighted that Firushana Thaufeeq was the first female Maldivian soldier to be sent for a Commissioning Course at the Academy. Mariya expressed pride in Cadet Firushana, who won the Best International Student Award earlier this week.

Further, the Maldivian minister went on to list key progressive steps by the government outside the military, including the reservation of 33 percent of all local council seats for women, appointing two female Justices to the Supreme Court, and appointing several females as Cabinet Ministers.