Child Sexual Abuse Remains High as Domestic Violence Cases Rise in June, Ministry Data Shows

Reported child sexual abuse cases remained at a high level in June following a sharp increase in May, while violence against children and gender-based and domestic violence continued to disproportionately affect girls and women, according to comparative data from the Ministry of Social and Family Development.

The ministry attended to 241 cases in June, down slightly from 254 cases in May. However, cases involving child safety and domestic violence remained significant.

advertisement

The ministry recorded 86 cases of violence against children in June, compared with 81 cases in May. Girls accounted for 53 of the June cases, up from 43 in May, while cases involving boys fell from 38 to 33.

2026 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ޖޫން މަހު މި ވުޒާރާއަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ ކުޑަކުދިންނާއި އަންހެނުން އަދި ނާޒުކު ހާލަތްތަކުގައިވާ ފަރާތްތަކާ ގުޅޭ މައްސަލަތަކުގެ ތަފާސްހިސާބުތައް.
2026 vana aharuge June mahu mi vuzaaraaah hushahalhaafaivaa kudakudhinnaai anhenun adhi naazuku haalaiythakugaivaa… pic.twitter.com/LoraxjeRJ6— Social and Family Development (@SFdevelopmentMV) July 20, 2026

Child sexual abuse remained the largest category of child abuse reported in June, with 25 cases recorded. The number was unchanged from May, when cases rose sharply from 13 in March.

However, the gender distribution shifted, with girls accounting for 22 of the 25 victims in June, compared with 19 girls and six boys among the 25 victims recorded in May.

Physical abuse cases more than doubled from eight in May to 17 in June. Boys accounted for 11 of the 17 physical abuse cases recorded in June.

Reports of child neglect also increased from 11 cases in May to 14 in June, involving eight girls and six boys. Emotional abuse cases, meanwhile, fell from 12 in May to five in June.

The ministry also recorded 35 cases of gender-based and domestic violence in June, with women accounting for 28 victims compared with seven men.

Physical violence and abuse made up the largest category, involving 13 women and four men. Nine cases of emotional and verbal abuse were also recorded, involving eight women and one man.

Other cases included intimidation, rape, blackmail and forceful entry into homes.

A total of 20 individuals required direct care and support from the state in June, down from 28 in May. Mental health issues accounted for 10 of the June interventions, involving eight women and two men, while four individuals required immediate shelter assistance.

In February, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child raised serious concerns over widespread violence against children in the Maldives and growing mental health challenges, warning that stigma and cultural taboos continue to undermine reporting and effective responses.

In findings published as part of a joint review of six countries, the committee said violence against children in the Maldives remains pervasive. It cited domestic violence, sexual and gender-based violence, abuse and neglect as persistent problems, and said social factors including stigma and harmful taboos hinder prevention, timely reporting and accountability.

The concentration of physical, sexual, and psychological trauma within family units underscores an urgent need for strengthened community surveillance, accessible mental health services, and early-intervention social work to protect vulnerable women and children across the Maldives.