The Government’s National Gender Equality Action Plan (GEAP) 2022 – 2026 was developed with a focus on five main policy areas; Leadership and Governance, Economic Empowerment, Institutional Gender Mainstreaming, Elimination of Gender-Based Violence, and Access to Justice.
The legal framework for gender equality in the Maldives was strengthened through the enactment of the Gender Equality Act (Law No. 18/2016), which prohibits direct and indirect gender-based discrimination, and the duties and responsibilities of State institutions and other relevant parties to achieve gender quality in the country. The 2019 amendment to the Decentralization Act (Law No. 7/2010) established a 33% electoral quota for women in local councils, setting a precedent and facilitated women’s increased meaningful participation in public life and governance.
However, the Maldives is considerably behind in attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG Goal 5 (Gender Equality) having a stagnant score, indicating major challenges that persist in achieving gender equality.
The Strategic Action Plan (SAP) is the 2018 administration’s integral referencing point to steer Maldivian development efforts slated for the time period of 2019 – 2023. The SAP is comprised of 5 main priority areas: Blue Economy, Caring State, Dignified Families, Jazeera Dhiriulhun, and Good Governance. Each area has a multitude of different steps and actions to reach completion and are time-bound to ensure accountability and transparency to the public.
Women & Democracy’s core focus areas can be found in the last area of the SAP, Good Governance. Under the area’s subsection 5.6 Gender Equality, our research dove deep into Strategy 1.3: Increase the role of women in decision making levels, Strategy 3.1: Ensure that women are economically empowered, and Strategy 3.3: Improve access to credit and financial mechanisms for female entrepreneurs.
