Republic of Maldives: UNICEF Document
Reported, January 2, 2012
Situation of children and women in Maldives
1. The Maldives consists of approximately 1,190 islands, 198 of which are inhabited, spread out over 300 square kilometres. According to the last census of 2006, the population of Maldives was about 300,000. One third lived in the capital, Malé, and 44 per cent were younger than age 14. Despite its image as a high-end tourist destination, Maldives continues to face development challenges, especially for its women, children and burgeoning adolescent population.
2. The first multi-party presidential elections held in 2008 resulted in a new Government and adoption of a new Strategic Action Plan (SAP) 2009-2013, replacing the 7th National Development Plan. The SAP covers five main pledges, including the establishment of a nationwide transport system, lower living costs, provision of affordable housing and quality health care, and prevention of drug abuse and trafficking.
3. Maldives has achieved remarkable economic growth. Despite the 2000-2002 global economic slowdown, the devastating impact of the 2004 tsunami and the 3F1 crises of 2007-2009, the average growth rate for real gross domestic product (GDP) between 2000 and 2009 was almost 6 per cent, one of the highest in Asia. However, growth plunged in 2009 to anywhere from -1.3 per cent (Government estimate) to -4.5 per cent (International Monetary Fund estimate), depending on calculated performance of key sector (tourism,fisheries). Previous high growth rates were the result of rapid development of tourism and related sectors. In 2009, real per capita GDP stood at $2,803.
4. Maldives now has the highest Human Development Index ranking in South Asia: 95 out of 182 countries. Its HDI value is 0.77, showing a steady improvement from 2006. In addition, Maldives has achieved five of the eight Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule, making it South Asias only MDG+ country. At the same time, unemployment among youth has increased to 16.17 per cent in Malé and 18.71 per cent in the atolls. With 39.4 per cent of youth living in Malé, lack of opportunity has limited their development in recent years. Lacking appropriate recreational facilities for young people, youth commonly turn to other avenues such as drugs. It is
estimated that 46 per cent of drug users are aged 16-24 years.Risks associated with high rates of drug abuse and the increasing sex trade pose a serious threat of spreading HIV infection.
5. Social sector expenditures have averaged nearly 50 per cent of the budget in recent years. Notably, the health and nutrition status of children and women has improved. Real achievement has been made towards Goal and in the steady reduction of the under-five mortality rate, from 48 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009, according to the 2009 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) preliminary results. This decline in under-five mortality can be attributed to the impressive reduction in infant mortality from 34 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 14 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009 (DHS 2009). The Maldives had already reduced the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) from 259 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1997 to 43 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2008. Undernutrition remains a challenge among children under five, despite having improved from 30 per
cent in 2001 to 17.3 per cent in 2009. The country has an extremely low HIV prevalence rate, which presents both an opportunity and a challenge. This low prevalence must be maintained.
6. Environmental sustainability is a fundamental issue in Maldives. Given the very low average elevation of 1-1.5 metres and the small size of the islands, Maldives is directly threatened by multiple natural hazards. Access to drinking water has improved in urban areas but has remained constant in the atolls. In 2006, 21 per cent of households treated water at point of use compared to 12 per cent in 2000. Maldives has made variable progress in providing improved sanitation facilities. Households with access to toilet facilities increased from 40 per cent in 1990 to 94 per cent in 2006; however, this increase reflects improvements mostly in urban areas such as Malé.
Across all atoll households, by 2006, 72 per cent had toilets connected to septic tanks, while 16 per cent had toilets connected directly to the sea.
7. Improved access to pre-primary education has been significant, with the number of preschools increasing from 188 in 2007 to 211 in 2009. Universal primary education, which is 100 per cent, has been achieved with no disparity in net enrolment. Free primary schooling is offered in 214 schools spread across all inhabited islands, with 16 in Malé. The percentage of untrained teachers in primary and above is 24 per cent while in preschools it is 70 per cent. Until 2006, most children with special needs had no access to education.
The Government has since set up classes for children with special education needs within existing schools in seven atolls. Secondary education shows no gender disparity but its quality remains poor, particularly in the atolls. The overall pass rate has remained below 30 per cent for the last decade.
8. The participation of females in the labour force rose from 22 per cent to more than 52.9 per cent between 1990/1991 and 2005/2006. The country has one of the highest rates (47 per cent) of female-headed households, with more than half arising from the migration of spouses for work. There are indicationsthat increasing religious fundamentalism and an emerging prevalence of conservative ideas have negatively affected girls school attendance, immunization of children and womens access to medical care. A major challenge also arises from extensive violence experienced by Maldivian women and girls. One in three Maldivian women aged 15-49 reported experiencing physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives, including childhood sexual abuse.4 According to the 2008 Violence Against Children study, 1 in 7 Maldivian secondary school children report being sexually abused at least once (20 per cent among girls, 11 per cent among boys). Safetyand security for adolescent girls, especially in Malé, is a particular concern.
More Information at:
http://www.unicef.org/maldives/Country_programme_2011-15.pdf