The Government is establishing three new temporary shelters to support women affected by domestic violence.

Minister of Social and Family Development Dr Aishath Shiham announced the initiative in a recent interview with state media, emphasising the urgent need to expand support services for victims across the country.

At present, the Maldives has only one shelter dedicated to the care and protection of women experiencing domestic abuse. Given the rising number of reported cases, Minister Dr Shiham noted that demand for such facilities has become increasingly apparent, underscoring the need to scale up capacity. In response, the new shelters, currently under development and to be operated under the name ‘Domestic Violence Shelter,' are expected to significantly strengthen the national support network for survivors.

Highlighting the scale of the issue, statistical data from April 2025 revealed 44 reported cases of gender-based and domestic violence, including 24 incidents of physical assault, eight cases of psychological and verbal abuse, and five instances involving threats and intimidation.

An additional 40 reports detailed various other forms of violence against women, further reflecting the severity and widespread nature of the problem.

Alongside increasing shelter capacity, the Government is also rolling out broader initiatives aimed at empowering women.

These include economic empowerment programmes that offer loans to help women achieve financial independence. A dedicated portion of these funds is earmarked for women with disabilities, ensuring the programmes are inclusive and accessible to all who may need support.