Child Violence, Domestic Abuse Cases Rise in July Despite Overall Decline
Children playing at a distance at a local island in the Maldives. | Photo: MV+
The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare recorded 228 cases in July, down from 241 cases in June, while reports of violence against children and gender-based and domestic violence both increased during the month.
Cases of violence against children rose to 88 in July, up from 86 in June. Girls accounted for 54 cases, compared with 53 in June, while cases involving boys increased to 34 from 33. Sexual abuse remained a major concern, with 17 cases recorded in July, including 14 involving girls and three involving boys. Neglect was the second-largest category, with 22 cases.
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The July figures also show changes in several forms of child abuse compared with June. Reports of child neglect rose from 14 to 22, while physical abuse increased from 17 to seven cases. Emotional abuse fell from five cases in June to nine in July, based on the ministry’s category breakdown. July also saw four cases of child blackmail, four bullying cases and three cases involving exploitation or harassment.
2026 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ޖުލައި މަހު މި ވުޒާރާއަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ ކުޑަކުދިންނާއި އަންހެނުން އަދި ނާޒުކު ހާލަތްތަކުގައިވާ ފަރާތްތަކާ ގުޅޭ މައްސަލަތަކުގެ ތަފާސްހިސާބުތައް.@MoHmv pic.twitter.com/KMJAfIdxAa— Social and Family Development (@SFdevelopmentMV) August 20, 2026
Meanwhile, gender-based and domestic violence cases increased sharply to 54 in July, compared with 35 in June. Women accounted for 45 of the July cases, compared with 28 in June, while cases involving men increased from seven to nine. Physical violence and abuse remained the largest category, rising from 17 cases in June to 32 in July, including 27 women and five men.
The ministry also recorded 15 cases involving behavioural problems among children in July, including four cases of refusal to attend school, three temper tantrums and two cases of children running away. Overall, the ministry handled 13 fewer cases in July than in June, representing a decline of about 5.4 per cent, despite increases in the two major protection-related categories.
The continued occurrence of different forms of violence against children and women remains a major concern. 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.
