Maldivian Women Rising in Politics

Monday 16th of December 2019

Maldivian Women Rising in Politics

On 11th December, the Elections Commissions announced that city councilors will increase to 980 in April’s council elections, out of which 327 seats will be reserved for female candidates. This is one-third of the total seats.

As part of the decentralization act by President Ibu Solih, women’s participation in development affairs will be guaranteed. On 5th December, the parliament passed the Decentralization Act with provisions to allocate 33% of local council seats for women. The bill was submitted by Hulhumale MP and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Ali Niyaz and was approved by 76 MPs. In the 2020 elections, 929 members will also be elected to women’s development committees.