During the Third Committee debate on the promotion and protection of children, the Maldives welcomed the UN target to end all forms of violence against children featured within the Agenda 2030. Noting that this is the first time a specific global target is made to end all forms of violence against children, the Maldives viewed that it would open up new hopes and greater opportunity for children.
The Maldives highlighted the emphasis the Government accords in providing its children access to the best possible education. The Government has consistently dedicated six per cent of the country's gross domestic product to education expenditure, which is a record high in South Asia. The Committee was further told that the Maldives has achieved universality of primary education and gender parity in literacy rates, enrolment, and in terms of achievements in primary, secondary and tertiary levels. The statement further noted that the Maldives has been continuously harmonizing domestic legislation to fulfill its obligations toensure the rights of its children, especially those that are vulnerable. The Special Procedures to Prosecute Sexual Offenders of Children, Domestic Violence Prevention Act, the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse Act, and Sexual Offences Act have strengthened the legal framework to protect women, children, and migrants from violence and sexual abuse, the statement said.
During the debate, the Maldives also called on all States to be persistent in fulfilling the shared responsibility of securing the right to a safe future for the younger generations, by committing to address the challenges of climate change, which the Maldives viewed will drastically affect all children both socially and physically.
The statement was delivered by Zeena Mohamed Didi, Representative of the Maldives delegation to the 70th Session of the UNGA.
