News

President ratifies three bills

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Tuesday ratified the Bill on Gender Equality, passed by Parliament at the 16th sitting of the 2nd session held last week.

The Gender Equality Act seeks to eliminate gender discrimination and establish the role of government and other agencies in the implementation of the law.

In addition, the President ratified the First Amendment to the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Act.  

The amendment bill was passed by Parliament on Wednesday at the 17th sitting of the 2nd session.

The amendment requires, except for listed areas by the Ministry of Home Affairs, prior written approval by Maldives Police Service for gatherings around Malé.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is to publish the listed areas in the Gazette within 30 days of publication of the Act.

On Tuesday, the President also ratified the Second Amendment to the Political Party Act.

The amendment bill was passed by Parliament on Wednesday at its 17th sitting of the 2nd session.

The amendment requires members of political parties to submit finger print identification with their membership forms and other supporting documents. Any member who does not conform to the membership requirements set forth in the Act within one month of the publication of this Act would no longer be a party member. The Act also outlines that state funds can only be granted to parties which conform to the provisions of the act.

On ratification, all three acts have now been published in the Government Gazette.