His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable water and sanitation for every inhabited island, emphasising that water security is inseparable from the dignity, safety, and opportunity of women and girls.
In his message marking World Water Day, the President noted that while the Maldives is surrounded by the ocean, securing freshwater remains a national priority. He observed that when water becomes scarce, the burden falls most heavily on women and girls, who often manage household needs and caregiving during supply disruptions or extreme weather.
The President outlined a vision for resilient systems, focusing on strengthening existing infrastructure, including desalination systems and protecting fragile freshwater lenses, while continuing to invest in community-led solutions such as rainwater harvesting. He emphasised the importance of enhancing technical capacity and securing greater access to climate finance, alongside improved regulation and emergency preparedness to mitigate issues such as salinity intrusion.
A central theme of the message was the call for women’s active participation in water governance. The President emphasised that empowering their voices is crucial to building healthier, more resilient island communities and ensuring that “where water flows, equality grows.”
Concluding his message, President Dr Muizzu called for collective action from communities, civil society, utilities, and developmental partners to protect every drop, strengthen every system, and empower every voice. He reaffirmed that secure water and sanitation are foundations for a future where equality, safety, and opportunity are a lived reality for all Maldivians.
World Water Day is observed annually on 22 March. This year's theme is "Water and Gender.”