LocationsPractice Parliament for Women 2025: Empowering Women in Legislative Leadership
July 13, 2025
Practice Parliament for Women 2025
The Practice Parliament for Women 2025 was held from 5–12 July 2025 at the Secretariat of the People’s Majlis, bringing together aspiring women leaders from across the Maldives for an immersive eight-day experience in lawmaking, governance, and political participation.
Organized by the People’s Majlis in partnership with UNDP Maldives and supported by the Australian High Commission and the People’s Majilis, the programme aimed to foster a deeper understanding of democratic processes and empower women with the skills and confidence to participate actively in public life.
Participants were introduced to the inner workings of the Maldivian Governance system, beginning with an overview of the structure and function of the People’s Majlis. Through discussions led by Majlis staff, live session observations, andguided tours , they explored the constitutional role of the parliament and the responsibilities of Members of Parliament. These introductory sessions laid a strong foundation in the principles of democracy, representation, and accountability.
What made this year’s programme especially unique was the introduction of legislative practice sessions facilitated by UNDP Maldives and HerGov Consultancy. Participants were guided through the real-world process of reviewing draft laws, not just for content, but for their impact on communities, human rights, and gender equality. These sessions emphasized the importance of inclusive lawmaking, training participants to recognize how legal frameworks can unintentionally perpetuate inequalities, and how better, more thoughtful legislation can pave the way for a just and equal society.
Throughout the week, the group engaged in open, thought-provoking and motivating conversations with key leaders, including the Speaker of the Majlis, Hon. Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Minority Leader MP Ibrahim Nazil, and the currently sitting three female/women Members of Parliament, Asma Rasheed, Dr. Anara Naeem and Fathimath Sauda. These dialogues offered participants the chance to hear directly from those currently serving in legislative roles, shedding light on both the challenges and rewards of political leadership.
The programme also created space to explore a wider spectrum of public policy issues. Sessions covered everything from campaign strategy and communications, to the Right to Information, with support from the Information Commissioner’s Office, as well as the impact of corruption on women and communities, local governance, social cohesion and key development challenges in the Maldives.
In addition, the programme created a platform for the participants to connect and collaborate with civil society representatives, including ARC Maldives, Blind and Visually Impaired Society of Maldives, Equal Rights Initiative, WFD Democracy, and Ministry of Social and Family Development who work in advocacy and activism. These conversations served as a bridge between aspiring leaders and the active civic spaces that can support their continued growth and engagement.
A highlight of the final days was the Mock Parliament session, where participants assumed parliamentary roles and engaged in a full legislative debate. Sitting in a modelled version of the actual chamber of the People’s Majlis, they applied everything they had learned in a live simulation, from formal debate procedures to negotiation and policy argumentation. It was a powerful culmination of their weeklong journey.
As the eighth edition of the programme, Practice Parliament for Women 2025 continues to demonstrate the critical role of platforms like this in shaping a more inclusive democracy. Since 2021, 225 women including 36 women with disabilities and with strong representation from across the country, from north to south, have completed the programme. Through knowledge-sharing, skill-building, and real-life exposure, the initiative continues to create an empowering environment for women to envision themselves as changemakers, within parliament and beyond.
Links:
Practice Parliament for Women 2025 - Model Women Parliament Session | People's Majlis