President Highlights Role of Women in Building Water-Secure Communities

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his Administration’s commitment to providing safe, reliable, and affordable water and sanitation to every inhabited island, stressing that water security is closely linked to the dignity, safety, and opportunity of women and girls.

Marking World Water Day yesterday, the president highlighted that, despite the Maldives being surrounded by the ocean, securing freshwater remains a national priority. He noted that during water shortages, women and girls bear the heaviest burden, managing household needs and caregiving when supply disruptions or extreme weather occur.

President Dr Muizzu outlined a vision for resilient water systems, focusing on strengthening existing infrastructure, including desalination facilities and the protection of fragile freshwater lenses, while investing in community-led solutions such as rainwater harvesting. He also emphasised the importance of enhancing technical capacity, accessing climate finance, and improving regulation and emergency preparedness to address challenges such as salinity intrusion.

A key aspect of the President’s message was the call for women’s active participation in water governance. He stressed that empowering women’s voices is essential to building healthier, more resilient island communities and ensuring that “where water flows, equality grows.”

Concluding his remarks, President Dr Muizzu called for collective action from communities, civil society, utilities, and development partners to protect water resources, strengthen infrastructure, and amplify voices. He reaffirmed that secure water and sanitation form the foundation for a future in which equality, safety, and opportunity are realised for all Maldivians.

World Water Day is observed annually on 22 March, with this year’s theme focusing on “Water and Gender.”