This initiative is an extremely important step that needs to be taken in Maldives, as figures from the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Social Services published in 2021 for Children's Day showcase that 1,283 cases of abuse were reported in the year 2020 alone.
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In a move to address child abuse in the Maldives, Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has unveiled the HOPE Campaign website. ARC Maldives is a non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit organization registered in the Maldives that works towards protecting and promoting the rights and well-being of children in the country, advocating for their health, safety, education, and wellbeing.
The latest project by ARC Maldives was launched to coincide with the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse as well as World Children’s Day. This initiative is an extremely important step that needs to be taken in Maldives, as figures from the Ministry of Gender, Family, and Social Services published in 2021 for Children's Day showcase that 1,283 cases of abuse were reported in the year 2020 alone. What was more concerning about these reports was that the highest number of reported child abuse cases among these were cases of sexual abuse and neglect - with most of the abuse reported by females who were under 18 years old.
Although abuse towards children is a topic often left to be discussed behind closed doors, the HOPE Campaign website might be the step needed to address abuse towards children within Maldivian society. The website was designed by ARC Maldives in order to not only raise awareness but also to foster reporting and support survivors by offering accessible tools as well as educational materials. While talking about abuse, especially towards children is one thing, detecting and reporting abuse is another. In a society where abuse is often not discussed, it may be hard to detect signs of abuse towards children. This initiative by ARC Maldives will act as a tool towards identifying and making it easier for members of society such as teachers and caretakers to report abuse and take collective responsibility when it comes to safeguarding children.
