President Muizzu Announces New Legislation to Criminalise Bullying Across Maldives

The Maldivian government has begun drafting a dedicated Anti-Bullying Act to formally criminalise bullying, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced during a press conference at the President’s Office. The proposed legislation aims to establish bullying as a specific legal offence, addressing a persistent social challenge that the President noted is mirrored in many countries worldwide. The new law is designed to create a comprehensive legal framework, expanding upon the 2024 amendments to the Penal Code which previously focused on cyberbullying and online harassment. By moving beyond digital spaces, the government intends to implement a system that combines punitive measures for offenders with robust preventive strategies to reduce the frequency of such incidents. According to President Muizzu, the legislation will provide clear legal definitions of what constitutes bullying. Crucially, the Act will specify the environments where these protections apply, specifically targeting schools, educational institutions, and workplaces to ensure safety and dignity across various sectors of society. The Attorney General’s Office is currently leading the drafting process, working in close consultation with technical experts to ensure the law is both practical and effective. Once these consultations are finalized, the bill will be submitted to the Majlis (the Maldivian Parliament) for deliberation and approval. This legislative move is part of a broader government initiative to strengthen legal protections for citizens. By codifying bullying as a criminal act, the administration seeks to send a clear message regarding the intolerance of harassment and to provide victims with stronger legal recourse in both professional and academic settings.