Maldives vows to eliminate violence against women

The Maldives government said on Wednesday it remains committed to eliminate violence against women.

The government will continue to step up its efforts to protect females from the flagrant violation of human rights, Xinhua quoted Maldives Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon as saying while commemorating the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women.

"One of the key pledges of President Abdulla Yameen's administration is zero tolerance for violence against women," Maumoon said adding that such forms of violence was the most degrading violation of human rights.

"Moreover the government is committed to address the root cause for violence against women by investing in gender equality and empowerment."

Maumoon further explained that the Maldives has made significant efforts in preventing violence against women through its Sexual Abuse and Harassment Prevention Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act and the Draft Gender Equality Bill, which strengthen its legal framework to prevent violence against women.