231 Cases of Child and Gender-Based Violence Reported in Maldives Last Month

Malé, Maldives – The Ministry of Health, Family and Social Services has released statistics showing that 231 cases involving children and women were reported in the past month. The cases include 88 incidents of child abuse, 51 cases of domestic violence, and 16 behavioral problems involving children. According to the ministry, the child abuse cases break down as follows: 12 cases of domestic violence, 16 of neglect, 8 of psychological abuse, 29 of physical abuse, 15 of sexual abuse, 1 of blackmail, 5 of bullying, and 1 other case. The domestic violence cases involved 10 men and 41 women. Among the 16 behavioral problems, 6 involved anger issues, 2 involved running away from home, 1 involved refusal to attend school, and 7 were classified as other behavioral issues. The ministry’s helplines also received significant traffic. The children’s helpline (1412) answered 1,662 calls, including 760 from children, 617 from adults, and 285 from unknown sources. The social help helpline (1421) received 511 calls, comprising 254 from children, 167 from adults, and 90 from unknown callers. The Ministry noted that the increase in reported cases reflects heightened public awareness and a growing willingness to seek assistance for issues related to child and gender-based violence.