The Ministry of Social and Family Development has hosted a critical validation meeting to finalise key proposed amendments to the Family Regulations, a foundational set of rules that governs marriage, divorce, and child welfare in the Maldives.
The overhaul is specifically aimed at enhancing the implementation of the primary legislation, Act No 2000/4 (the Family Act), and resolving various procedural challenges currently faced by courts and practitioners.
The Family Act sets out the legal parameters for all aspects of domestic life, including spousal and child support, custody arrangements, reproduction, and proof of descent. Under Article 72 of the Act, the proposed amendments are intended to clearly set out the principles governing the implementation phase, thereby strengthening the legislative framework and ensuring greater consistency across family judicial proceedings.
The validation meeting served as a crucial step for the Ministry, gathering input from experts and responsible agencies to validate the proposed changes and identify areas requiring further improvement. The discussions successfully highlighted existing challenges inherent in the current implementation of the Family Regulation and outlined the procedural steps necessary for adopting the revised provisions.
To ensure the amendments are practical and effective in addressing real-world implementation deficits, the Ministry confirmed that the regulation has been significantly revised with technical assistance and cooperation from key judicial bodies, including the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA) and the Family Court.
This collaborative approach underscores the Ministry’s commitment to legislative reforms that directly impact the well-being of Maldivian families. This is part of Ministry’s ongoing focus on reviewing central social legislation, following the recent launch of consultations on amendments to the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse Act.