News updates

ARC CELEBRATES WOMEN’S DAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNICEF AND CHSE

March 8, 2016

Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has partnered with UNICEF Maldives and Centre for Higher Education (CHSE), to celebrate International Women’s Day 2016. A special event was held today to mark this occasion and a series of awareness sessions are also being held throughout the week for the students of CHSE.

The International Women’s Day is observed annually on 8th March and the theme for 2016 is, “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step it up for Gender Equality”. At today’s ceremony, ARC’s Director Mr. Muruthala Moosa gave a presentation on the importance of accelerating the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The presentation emphasized how girls and women can and will contribute to achieving the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) which affect them. A total of 500 students will be reached through these sessions which cover a range of topics, including the empowerment of girls, promoting social values and preparing adolescent girls for adulthood with a focus on health and nutrition.

Speaking at the event, ARC’s Executive Director Ms Zenysha Zaki highlighted the cumulative beneficial effects of educating and empowering girls: which includes improved family health and education, better employment opportunities and higher incomes, greater participation in the governance structure and equal opportunities for women.

ARC greatly appreciates the support by UNICEF Maldives for the work undertaken by ARC to promote gender equality and to protect the rights of girls in the Maldives. ARC also wishes to thank CHSE for facilitating the participation of a large number of students in today’s event as well as the awareness sessions being held throughout the week.

ARC LAUNCHES GRACE CAMPAIGN AWARENESS MEDIA CLIPS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

November 30, 2015

Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has today launched a series of media clips, including 3 video clips and 4 radio clips on girls’ empowerment, in partnership with the British High Commission in Colombo. The awareness clips were launched by the Chief Guest, H. E. Ms. Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Health, at a special event held today in Mookai Hotel. Ms Laura Clarke, Head of South Asia Department of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, and officials from the British High Commission in Colombo also attended the event.

Speaking at the event, Ms Hawla Ahmed Didi, ARC’s Managing Director thanked the British High Commission for their support and generous contribution to advancing the rights of girls and women in the Maldives. She also highlighted the importance of empowering young girls to build a community that stands against gender based violence and gender inequality. The Minister, H. E. Ms. Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Health highlighted the important role the civil society continues to play in empowering girls and women. Ms. Laura Clarke, Head of South Asia Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, expressed that the government of the UK is pleased to have funded such an initiative in the Maldives and highlighted the UK government’s policy of gender inclusive development as a key to achieving global good.

The 3 video clips launched today provide practical tips to prepare young adults for interviews and to submit successful applications for higher studies and jobs, as well as promote the benefits of participating in volunteer work and internships. The audio clips targeted at parents promote the benefits of educating and empowering girls and highlight the contribution to economic development by girls and women. The media clips are part of ARC’s GRACE Campaign which was launched earlier this year, aimed at empowering girls by building their confidence to navigate social, cultural, economic and gender barriers.

As part of the GRACE Campaign, ARC conducts awareness sessions for students and parents from grades 9 to 12. In this regard, in partnership with the British High Commission, ARC has conducted interactive sessions for students and parents of four islands in Dhaalu atoll, between August and September this year. As part of the collaboration with the British High Commission, ARC also plans to conduct outreach sessions in Haa Alifu, Gnaviyani and Seenu Atolls, early next year, as well as launch a campaign specific website for easy access to useful information on areas covered by this awareness campaign.

ARC LAUNCHES GRACE CAMPAIGN TO EMPOWER GIRLS

March 8, 2015

Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) has launched a new campaign titled GRACE, focusing on the empowerment of girls. The Campaign was launched today, by Executive Director, Ms Zenysha Zaki, during a special assembly for students of Grade 10 at Imaaduddin School, to mark the occasion of the International Women’s Day. Ms Wafa Waheed, Principal of Imaduddin School also spoke at the event.

Ms Zenysha Zaki highlighted that “aims to empower girls by building their confidence to navigate social, cultural, economic and gender barriers”. GRACE Campaign helps Girls build Resilience, Aspirations, Capabilities and Empowerment. It will equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for further study and employment. GRACE will also actively encourage girls to aspire to careers that are non-traditional and that involve decision-making roles. In this regard, in addition to a media campaign, short video clips featuring successful professional women will be aired during the awareness sessions conducted for students of grades 9 to 12 and their parents. Recognizing the important role of men in the empowerment of women, the sessions will also include boys from the same age group.

It is ARC’s hope that through projects such as the GRACE Campaign, we help reduce the gender stereotypes that exist in our society, as well as lay the foundation for establishing a more conducive environment for women to make a bigger contribution to national development.

ARC HOLDS A WORKSHOP FOR GIRLS, TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD

October 10, 2015

Advocating the Rights of Children (ARC) is holding a full-day workshop today, for girls, to mark the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC). The Chief Guest for the event was Member of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives, Ms. Aishath Afreen.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of the Workshop, Ms Zenysha Zaki, Executive Director of ARC expressed hope that an investment in girls today would create a future generation of empowered, educated and active young women. She also emphasized that this would pave the way for tomorrow’s youth to efficiently overcome challenges and have the potential and capacity to work actively in the development of their communities.

A total of 50 girls from grade 11 of Ahmadiyya School are participating in this one-day workshop being held in the Islamic Centre Hall. This workshop is part of ARC’s GRACE Campaign, which is conducted in partnership with the British High Commission. GRACE Campaign helps Girls build Resilience, Aspirations, Capabilities and Empowerment. The objectives of the GRACE campaign closely match the UN development goals, with the campaign’s focus on helping girls to assume their different roles. In addition to a session on the importance of higher education and girls’ empowerment, other topics covered in the workshop include: promoting health and nutrition, promoting social values and empowering children against abuse.

ARC takes this opportunity to thank the British High Commission for its generous support and genuine interest in advancing the rights of girls and women in the Maldives.

The International Day of the Girl Child has been observed since 2012, with the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66/170 on 19 December 2011 that declared 11th October as the IDGC. The theme for this year’s IDGC is “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030”. The theme stresses on the importance of investing in adolescent girls, to increase their potential as they become future mothers, business women, heads of households, mentors and leaders.

THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION PARTNERS WITH ARC TO EMPOWER GIRLS

July 25, 2015

The British High Commission, Colombo, has partnered with Advocating the Rights of Children to support the GRACE Campaign on the empowerment of the girl child in the Maldives.  GRACE helps Girls build Resilience, Aspirations, Capabilities and Empowerment, and equips them with the knowledge and skills necessary for further study and employment. GRACE will also actively empower girls by building their confidence to navigate social, cultural, economic and gender barriers.

An agreement was signed between ARC and the British High Commission today, to formalize the partnership for a duration of 8 months. Through this partnership, ARC aims to invest in girls through practical skills development sessions to increase their capacity to compete for scholarships and job opportunities, and to enter careers that are non-traditional and that involve decision-making roles. The project also includes a campaign-specific website, information sessions for parents, as well as a media campaign to raise awareness on the importance of the women’s empowerment.

ARC wishes to express sincere appreciation to the British High Commission for their generous support and commitment to promoting the rights of children in the Maldives. It is ARC’s hope that through projects such as the GRACE Campaign, gender stereotypes that exist in the Maldivian society can be reduced, and a foundation be laid for establishing a more conducive environment for women to make a bigger contribution to the national development of the country.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD

October 11, 2014

On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly voted to pass a resolution establishing 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC). This day is designated for promoting the rights of girls and highlighting the unique challenges they face around the world. Today, countries around the world are observing the third International Day of the Girl Child. The theme for this year’s IDGC is, “Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence”.

Bearing in mind the unique challenges faced by girls in our society, ARC is planning to launch a new campaign entitled GRACE, focused on empowering girls. GRACE Campaign helps “Girls build Resilience, Aspirations, Capabilities and Empowerment”. It aims to empower girls by building their confidence to navigate social, cultural, economic and gender barriers. It is designed to help girls make informed educational decisions and invest in girls to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary for career development. An important component of the GRACE Campaign is highlighting women’s achievements in non-traditional and decision making roles.

ARC hopes that the GRACE Campaign will educate girls on the wide varieties of educational opportunities available and how to access them, as well as equip them with the skills necessary to succeed in the competitive job market. As part of the GRACE Campaign, ARC will conduct information sessions for girls and a media campaign to raise public awareness on relevant issues.