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Dear John

At Equality Now, we believe that when you change the law, you can change everything, and we know you agree with us. You are the core of our work, and your support helps us advocate for groundbreaking legal rights for women and girls.

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In our groundbreaking 2021 report, Sexual Violence in South Asia, we identified barriers keeping survivors of sexual violence from accessing justice across the region. As we work to make equality reality for women and girls wherever they are in the world, we are pleased to share that on November 29, 2021 the Maldives passed significant amendments to the country’s Sexual Offences Act. The landmark changes were ratified on December 6 by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, marking significant progress in our collaborative work to ensure justice for sexual violence survivors in the Maldives.

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These amendments to the country’s sexual violence legislation will improve the definition of rape, providing all women in the Maldives with greater access to justice. These will also remove certain discriminatory evidence provisions regarding proving rape and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to investigate sexual violence cases by requiring that a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach be followed in their work and to require the use of rape kits.

The new legislation will also criminalize marital rape without exception. According to one 2007 survey, 6.7% of women reported a lifetime prevalence of sexual violence by intimate partners. Now, the law will never be able to tell a woman her husband is more important than her own consent. A year-end gift today will help us continue the work to make this true everywhere.

We are so proud of all we’ve been able to accomplish this year, thanks to your generosity and commitment. Help us keep the momentum going by making a generous gift today.

Make your year-end gift.

Your tax-deductible gift will have DOUBLE the impact and potential, as our friends at the InMaat Foundation will match every dollar raised up to $100,000 before December 31.

Don’t delay! There are just 15 days left to make your gift before the end of the year.

We join our partner organization Uthema in congratulating the Maldivian government on these amendments and we will continue to call on the government and President Solih to ensure these laws are fully implemented and enforced and that all women and girls in the Maldives and across the world can live safe, fearless, and free.

Every bit of progress that your generosity supports brings us one step closer to a more just world for women and girls. Thank you for your unwavering partnership.

In solidarity,

Divya Srinivasan
South Asia Consultant

Thanks to our challenge match sponsor

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