Women
in the Republic of the Maldives (2001)
While overt and deliberate sex-based discrimination is totally
absent in the Maldivian psyche, it is being recognized that
gender- and poverty-related disparities and concerns are surfacing
as a consequence of rapid economic development and breakdown
of the traditional systems of familial and social relations.
Encouragingly, the Government is open-minded about the need
to improve on gender-related issues. Acceptance of the problem
is a first positive step. Several initiatives have been taken
in the recent past to understand the conceptual basis and
methods to mainstream gender and initiate affirmative action
to remove structural barriers to women’s participation
in government administration. As an example, recently, the
Government separated the administrative and religious functions
of island chiefs, opening the doors for women to participate
in island development more actively, a role that hitherto
was not possible as they were not entitled to perform the
religious duties of a kateeb/island chief. Simultaneously,
ADB’s goal of poverty reduction, and thrust of the policy
to focus on growth, social development and governance, provides
a unique opportunity for collaboration to improve the gender-related
indices. Preparation of this briefing paper with a comprehensive
collation and analysis of information on gender issues in
Maldives is perhaps a first step in this direction. BACK
TO TOP
Gender-related Statistics in Maldives (2001)
Country
Report on Maldives on the 24th Session of the Committee
on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
This is advanced
and unedited report dated February 2001. According to the
State representative, there has been several positive developments
since the submission of the initial report in 1998. Existing
laws and policies did not discriminate against women in the
areas of access to health services, education and employment,
but socio-cultural factors restricted women's de facto enjoyment
of rights in these areas. Since the fifth National Development
Plan period was almost over and the sixth National National
Development Plan was currently being drawn up, the representative
of the Maldives indicated that a separate section to reflect
gender as a cross-cutting policy issue would be incorporated
in the sixth National Development Plan to ensure that gender
concerns are addressed in all development planning.
Related documents
Status
of Women in the Maldives under Specific CEDAW Articles
This is a country
report on Maldives prepared by the International Women's Rights
Action Watch. This report looked into the status of Maldivian
women in different aspects including prostitution and trafficking,
political and public life, education, employment, health care
and reproductive rights among others. Although the President
of Maldives introduced legislation in the Parliament in the
200 session to renew government's commitment to providing
equal opportunities for women in the political, social and
economic areas, official deference to Muslim customs fosters
an environment of strict gender roles and often encourages
more rigid adherence to cultural norms than to national laws.
Women's
Situation in Maldives
Women traditionally
have played a subordinate role in society, although they now
participate in public life in growing numbers and gradually
are participating at higher levels. Women constitute
38 percent of government employees, and about 10 percent of
uniformed NSS personnel. In many instances, education
for girls is curtailed after the seventh grade. Nonetheless,
women enjoy a higher literacy rate (98 percent) than men (96
percent). More on this report.
