The Ministry of Gender and Family has launched 1412 call centre and “Ahan” mobile application in collaboration with UNICEF and Maldives Police Service, to facilitate the reporting of violence against children. A special ceremony was held today at Iskandaru Koshi to inaugurate the aforementioned services which was inaugurated by the Minister of Gender and Family Her Excellency Zenysha Shaheed Zaki along with the UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, Ms. Jean Gough.
The Inauguration ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Home Affairs His Excellency Azleen Ahmed and UNICEF Country representative to the Maldives, Dr. Alice Akunga. Representatives from the Ministry, UNICEF, Maldives Police Service, and other organisations also was present at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Zenysha reiterated that every citizen must play a role to prevent violence against children and to report any suspected violence case immediately through the services offered by the Ministry. She revealed that a total of 680 cases related to violence against children were reported to the Ministry in the first 6 months of this year.
The Ministry would like to express sincere appreciation to the Maldives Police Service and UNICEF for their support and assistance to strengthen the services offered through 1412 child helpline and to develop “Ahan” mobile application.
1412 child helpline service was initiated by the government in November 2009 as a toll free number, to assure that cases involving violence against children were reported and conferred to relevant authorities. “Ahan” campaign was introduced in 2015 as an awareness programme to safeguard the rights of children, especially to protect them from violence. The “Ahan” mobile Application will be available to download by next week.