40 child sexual abuse cases reported in August

Forty cases of child sexual abuse were reported to the gender ministry in August, up from 36 cases during the previous month.

A total of 101 cases involving violence against children were reported during August, according to monthly statistics released by the ministry of gender, family and social services on Sunday.

“Other forms of violence against children include 23 cases of negligence, 23 cases of physical abuse, eight cases of emotional abuse, three cases of victims of bullying and harassment, two cases of victims of cyber bullying and two cases of witness to domestic violence,” the ministry noted.

Cases involving family disputes included six cases of custody or access, five cases of parenting issues and three cases of child maintenance. There were three cases of children in conflict with the law during the period. Behavioural problems reported in August included three cases of children running away from home and one case of refusal to attend school.

Physical and sexual abuse of children remain key problems in the Maldives.

The ministry also attended to 25 cases involving gender-based violence or domestic violence, the most frequent of which involved physical abuse and emotional or verbal abuse with eight cases during the month.

There were three cases of controlling behaviour, two cases of sexual abuse, two cases of rape and two cases of intimidation.