The Maldives has formally signed the “Bogota Call to Action” Declaration.
The declaration, which emerged from the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children held in Bogota, Colombia, in November 2024, calls for intensified national and international efforts to eradicate all forms of violence against children, strengthen child‑rights protection systems, and improve responses to reports of abuse.
Speaking after the signing, Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Geela Ali said the move represents further progress in the government’s ongoing efforts to protect and safeguard children’s rights. She noted that the Maldives’ participation aligns closely with its own National Action Plan on Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Children, adopted earlier this year.
UNICEF Representative to the Maldives, Dr Edward Addai, praised the country’s advances in child protection, saying that the Maldives is achieving notable success in safeguarding its youngest citizens. He highlighted that the declaration’s focus on evidence‑based measures, legal and policy reforms, digital safety, institutional collaboration, and meaningful child participation complements existing Maldivian initiatives.
The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare affirmed that the Maldives will continue to work with local and international partners to ensure the declaration’s commitments translate into sustainable, lasting improvements in children’s lives.