‘Domestic violence remains prevalent due to weak enforcement of laws’

Hawwa Zahira, a freelance consultant, states domestic violence remains prevalent to due inadequate enforcement of existing laws despite extensive discussions and numerous campaigns addressing domestic and gender-based violence.

Speaking on SSTV’s "Himeyn Adu" program, which examines public perceptions of domestic and gender-based violence, Hawwa Zahira underscored the persisting need to encourage victims to report these issues and share their experiences.

She attributed the repetition of these crimes to the constrains in enforcing related laws.

"While there are numerous laws in place, the failure to implement them hints to people that even if they report an incident, the perpetrators will eventually receive leniency or escape accountability," she stated.

Hawwa further observed that although some men within the community do speak out on these matters, they remain in the minority. She noted that greater male participation in advocacy would have a meaningful impact on shaping public perception.

Additionally, she highlighted that because men predominantly hold leadership positions in Maldivian society, women facing abuse in the workplace often feel compelled to remain silent out of fear of losing their jobs. This dynamic, she explained, reinforces harmful societal norms. "As a result, women gradually begin to accept this as their reality, believing they must endure and suppress their suffering," she added.

She also remarked that victims frequently continue to endure abuse due to a perceived lack of support to intervene or stop it. According to Hawwa Zahira, only a small number find the courage to break their silence and speak out following such traumatic experiences.

Offering her perspective, Noora Mohamed, also a consultant, stated that there has been no noticeable shift in public attitudes toward these issues in the Maldives. She questioned the effectiveness of sexual harassment committees in various workplaces, despite their legal mandate, noting that their operational independence and influence remain unclear. Consequently, she expressed skepticism about whether meaningful progress is being made in line with contemporary expectations.

Noora further pointed out that certain traditional beliefs persist within Maldivian families, where abuse is often regarded as a private matter. She emphasized that, under current laws, concealing such acts constitutes a criminal offense.

"This is not just a private family matter. If it is a crime, it must be reported. We must recognize our legal responsibility to report such incidents when we become aware of them," Noora concluded.