The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare has launched the National Family Mediation Training Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening support for families and resolving disputes through trained mediators.

The programme was developed based on the findings of a national study on the challenges faced by women and children within the family environment. It is being implemented under the Child and Family Wellbeing Project, a collaborative initiative involving the Ministry, UNICEF, the Family Court and the Department of Judicial Administration.

The study was officially unveiled during a ceremony held on Saturday by Minister of Health, Family and Welfare Geela Ali, while Chief Justice Uz Abdul Ghanee Mohamed formally inaugurated the National Family Mediation Training Programme.

The study examined the impact of family instability and related challenges on children. Its findings were used to design the mediation programme, which aims to build a pool of qualified mediators equipped to help families resolve disputes through mediation.

The report found that children's wellbeing and development are closely influenced by the experiences of women and primary caregivers. It also identified vulnerabilities faced by families at different stages of family life, including before marriage, during marriage, throughout separation and after divorce.

Addressing the ceremony, Minister Geela said the programme reflects the Government's commitment to strengthening family wellbeing and creating safer environments for children. She said the study's findings would help improve support systems for families and enable authorities to identify and address issues before they develop into more serious problems.

The programme's first phase, which began on Saturday, focuses on training trainers who will go on to deliver mediation courses. The Ministry said training for family mediators is expected to begin in July, with the goal of expanding access to mediation services and helping families resolve disputes outside the court system.