The Department of Gender and Family Protection Services has been abolished by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik.

The department, formerly administered under the Ministry of Gender, Family and Human Rights asits activities related to children, women, people with special needs, and families, are now conducted by the Gender Ministry, according to the President’s Office.

The announcement of the department’s elimination (May 6) comes a day after Waheed met with the United Nation’s Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children Marta Santos Pais.

During the meeting Waheed emphasised his commitment to promoting and protecting children’s rights as well as ending all forms of violence against children.

He said a special committee has been established to “reform and strengthen” the government’s framework for protecting and advancing the rights of women, children, special needs individuals, and senior citizens, as well as promoting gender equality.