Our Cause

According to ‘The Maldives study on women’s health and life experiences’ (2007), 1 in every 3 women between the ages 15 – 49 had experienced some form of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. Following the enactment of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act in 2012, the number of domestic violence cases reported to the Family Protection Authority (FPA) the policy making, regulatory and monitoring agency of DV, has been increasing steadily since 2013. Evidently, women and girls are mostly at the receiving end of such violence.

Even after decades of advocacy for gender equality, there are very few women in policy making, both in the public and private sectors. Present-day society in the Maldives is, by and large, dominated by males, particularly in senior government positions, parliament and in the judiciary. There are challenges at the policy level as well as at the grassroots level to increase women’s participation in politics and to mobilize women advocates for the same purpose.

It was against this background that Hope for Women was founded, following consultations with groups of individuals concerned about increasing reports of child abuse and violence against women. The organization envisions a society where women are free from violence and discrimination, are empowered, and fully engaged in all aspects of public life.