Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) in partnership with UNICEF Maldives and the Ministry of Education has conducted a virtual consultation entitled “Children’s Perspectives on Preventing and Responding to Violence against Children”, to mark World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Universal Children’s Day 2020.
Over 20 students from grades 10-12 from across the country participated in the 3-day programme held from 17 to 19 November 2020, where they were provided with an overview on the current situation of violence against children and the Maldivian child protection system. Through this initiative, children also had the opportunity to meet and discuss issues of concern with representatives from State institutions working on child protection in the Maldives including the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services, Maldives Police Service, Ministry of Education and UNICEF Maldives.
The consultations concluded with a high-level plenary participated by First Lady Fazna Ahmed and senior officials from government agencies, where the children voiced their opinions and perspectives on ways to further strengthen the Maldivian child protection system.
ARC believes that its vital to provide more opportunities for children to engage in platforms to ensure their voices are heard on matters that directly affect them as children’s right to participation is guaranteed by the reconstituted Child Rights Protection Act 2019 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

20 November 2020