Seven political parties in the Maldives have signed a historic agreement aimed at empowering women in politics and combating violence against women in the political sphere.

The Foreign Communication and Development Office confirmed that seven of the country’s nine political parties endorsed the agreement, including the Adhaalath Party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Maldives Development Alliance (MDA), Maldives National Party (MNP), People’s National Congress (PNC), People’s National Front (PNF), and The Democrats.

This inter-party agreement, initiated by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, is the first of its kind in the Maldives.

It outlines a collective commitment to fostering women’s political participation and addressing political violence against women.

The agreement is grounded in comprehensive research on the Maldivian political landscape and sets forth several key measures, including the establishment of a confidential complaint system, a robust accountability framework, policies ensuring equal political opportunities, and dedicated budgets for awareness and capacity-building programs within the parties.