Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed today attended the event, ‘Our Voice, to Fight Violence against Women’ organised by Fariva Films and local celebrities.
In his remarks at the event, Vice President Dr Waheed underlined the role of men in eliminating violence against women and children.
Noting that women as well as children suffered more violations and harassment from men, he said they had a more vigorous role in fighting against violence against women and children.
The Vice President said it was important for everyone, especially men to believe that both men and women were equal partners in the development of the country, and they had the same rights as men.
The Vice President said empowerment of women as the most important step towards protecting and realising women’s rights.
He noted that, although women’s employment was the most important part of empowerment, majority of Maldivian women still opted to stay at home and rely on a male income earner in the family.
The Vice President also said that as party to international women’s and children’s rights conventions, it was important for the Maldives to adhere to principles in these conventions to follow the footsteps of modern societies.