Commitment
Take Affirmative Action to Increase Female Representation in the Judicial Sector
TOPIC: Gender Equality
Source
GEAP
Reference
Action 3.1e of Rule of Law & Judicial Reform subsector matrix
Date Updated
Oct 3, 2019
0
Partially Realized
Mechanism for Realization
Research on how other countries incorporate affirmative action to be conducted, which would then be applied to Maldivian law as necessary
Budget
50%
Realization
• Number of female judges and magistrates: 11% (20/183 judges are women) • Total number of registered women lawyers (as of 2021): 47% (820/1749 lawyers are women) • References to affirmative actions developed to increase female representation in the judicial sector (during 2019, 2020, 2021): Targeted to increase by 15% by 2026 • Percentage of women in the legal sector: 49.8% (as of 2020)

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.

Related Publications
GEAP – National Gender Equality Action Plan (2022 – 2026)
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