The President Confers Rehendhi Award 2023 At Official Function Held To Mark International Women’s Day 2023

On Monday night, the official function to observe this year’s International Women’s Day was held at Umar Zahir Office Building in Hulhumale’. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and First Lady Fazna Ahmed, Vice President Faisal Naseem and other senior officials from government offices and institutions attended the ceremony.

During the ceremony, the President conferred the Rehendhi Award 2023 to recipients while the First Lady presented them with brooches. Vice President Faisal Naseem also launched the ‘Madhadhugaaru’ mobile phone application at the function. The pilot episode of the ‘Amaze’ video series was also screened at the venue during the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Solih underscored the administration’s Gender Equality Action Plan which was disclosed in 2022. The plan aims to increase the participation of women and girls across all sectors, dismantle the systemic assignment of roles stemming from gender stereotypes and ensure equal consideration in the decision-making process for both genders.  

Spotlighting the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day - ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’ the President said that it aims to celebrate the accomplishments of women and girls in promoting innovative technology and digital education. On this note, he recalled the administration’s Strategic Action Plan (SAP) which highlights economic diversification, ICT and sub-sectors, including gender equality.

The President commended Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) for their achievements in promoting and empowering women’s rights. In this regard, President Solih urged all government offices and institutions to reflect on the importance of equity and equality and take immediate measures to implement guidelines and policies in the workplace.

 Underscoring the Maldives Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth (MERRY) project, President Solih noted that the administration has introduced equal pay for both genders in sports. Likewise, it has facilitated the accommodation of children under the age of two with a guardian to accompany athletes during training camps abroad.

In his address, the President also shed light on the administration’s efforts to eliminate barriers to employment and encourage working mothers. He noted that government offices and institutions are now establishing dedicated child-friendly spaces and daycare centres with some workplaces even allowing flexible work hours for mothers.

Before concluding his speech, the President called on the public for a whole-of-society approach to promote and protect women’s rights and create an inclusive environment for women with equitable opportunities in leadership roles and as policymakers.