The Ministry of Social and Family Development has reported a worrying increase in child abuse cases, with 93 incidents recorded last month alone.
Of the 93 cases reported, 24 involved sexual abuse, closely followed by 21 cases of physical assault. Additionally, 17 cases of child neglect were documented in July.
Domestic violence cases also saw a high number, with 57 reported last month.
The trend of increasing child abuse cases continues, as 97 such cases were reported in May.
Protestors hold up signs during an anti-rape rally in Male City: Maldivian court allows victim of sexual abuse to give a ‘Victim Impact Statement’ in a first. (Sun Photo/Fayaz Moosa)
The Gender Ministry also received 57 reports of domestic violence in July. Of these, 49 cases involved women, while the remaining eight were against men. These cases included:
One case of rape
Seven cases of sexual assault
29 cases of physical assault
13 cases of mental abuse
One case of negligence
One case of sexual harassment
One case of economic and financial abuse
Two cases of intimidation
2025 ވަނަ އަހަރުގެ ޖުލައި މަހުގައި އިޖުތިމާޢީ އަދި ޢާއިލީ ތަރައްޤީއާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާއަށް ރިޕޯޓުކޮށްފައިވާ މައްސަލަތަކުގެ ތަފާސްހިސާބުތައް. pic.twitter.com/TfgyTcNAP1
— Ministry of Social and Family Development (@MSFDmv) August 25, 2025
As of July, 152 children were in state custody, comprising 82 boys and 70 girls.
In July, six children (four girls and two boys) were taken into state custody. During the same period, one child was reunited with their family, and another was adopted.
Child abuse remains a persistent issue in Maldivian society, with a particularly high number of child sexual abuse cases reported to the ministry.
Many individuals convicted of these heinous acts are currently incarcerated. A website has been established to provide information on child sexual abusers.