Sexual Abuse Most Reported Offence Against Children in June, Says Ministry
A road in Haa Dhaalu Atoll Neykurendhoo | Photo: MV+
The Ministry of Social and Family Development has reported that sexual abuse was the most frequently reported offence against children in June, with a total of 27 cases.
According to data published by the ministry, 227 child protection cases were received and attended to during the month. The majority related to various forms of violence against children, including 38 cases involving boys and 50 involving girls.
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The disparity in gender for reported sexual abuse cases was significant. The ministry recorded 21 reports of sexual abuse involving girls, compared to six involving boys.
2025 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ޖޫން މަހުގައި އިޖުތިމާޢީ އަދި ޢާއިލީ ތަރައްޤީއާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާއަށް ރިޕޯޓުކޮށްފައިވާ މައްސަލަތަކުގެ ތަފާސްހިސާބުތައް. pic.twitter.com/lVQpFaJPiA— Ministry of Social and Family Development (@MSFDmv) August 5, 2025
Physical abuse or domestic violence was one of the categories in which more cases were reported involving boys than girls. In June, the ministry received 12 reports of physical violence against boys, while six such cases were reported involving girls. Other areas include witnessing domestic violence (five boys, two girls), victims of harassment (one boy), and victims of bullying (four boys, two girls).
Out of the 1,482 calls received by the government’s two helplines in June, 45 were made by children self-reporting abuse.
Data published separately by the Family Protection Services (FPS) for the second quarter of 2025 (April to June) indicated a total of 122 cases of domestic or physical violence reported against minors. Of these, 53 cases involved girls and 49 involved boys. Across all age groups, FPS recorded 449 cases of physical abuse during this period.
In terms of perpetrators, adults were overwhelmingly responsible for domestic violence against minors. According to FPS, 362 adults were recorded as perpetrators in the second quarter, comprising 296 men, 63 women, and three individuals of undisclosed gender.
FPS also reported 14 cases of physical violence against minors committed by other minors, involving 10 boys, two girls, and two children whose gender was not disclosed.
A total of 365 cases regarding domestic abuse were referred to the FPS in the second quarter of this year, out of which 54 percent were reported in the Greater Male’ Area. Approximately 41 percent of the Maldives’ resident population lives, according to the 2022 census.
