President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the Government has begun drafting a new anti-bullying law aimed at criminalising bullying and ensuring stricter legal action against offenders.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, the President said bullying remains a serious issue in the Maldives, similar to many other countries, and stressed the need for stronger legal measures to address it.

He noted that while amendments made to the Penal Code in 2024 had already criminalised certain forms of online bullying, the Government is now working on a dedicated law to tackle bullying in all its forms.

President Dr Muizzu said the Attorney General’s Office has already started preparing the legislation, which is expected to make it easier to investigate and resolve different types of bullying cases. Once the drafting and review process are completed, the bill will be submitted to Parliament.

The proposed law will include policies to prevent bullying in schools, mechanisms for dealing with offenders, regular reporting of incidents to a central authority, and procedures to address bullying within the formal education curriculum.

He added that the legislation will clearly define what constitutes bullying, how such acts will be criminalised, and the areas where the law will apply. This will include outlining the responsibilities and rights of schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, and healthcare providers.