President calls on volunteers to work towards preventing violence against women

President Abdulla Yameen has urged volunteers to work towards preventing and violence against women, a serious problem in the Maldives.

The President said this while speaking at a ceremony held on the occasion of International Volunteer Day, organised by the Maldivian Red Crescent, at Dharubaaruge, on Wednesday night.

He said that in addition to violence against women, gang violence is also a serious problem in our society, and called on Red Crescent to initiate efforts to engage volunteers and young people to combat this problem as well.

He urged everyone to show more compassion towards people with disabilities, children, and the elderly.

President Yameen applauded the humanitarian efforts of Maldivian volunteers, and said that the number of Maldivian youth engaged in such efforts is high compared with other countries in the region. He said that a major problem for Red Crescent in other countries is the lack of young volunteers – a problem which is not faced in the Maldives.

He also thanked Red Crescent for its efforts during the recent water crisis in Male’.