When women are excluded from decision-making spaces, democracy loses its ability to reflect the diverse lived realities of all citizens. In many countries, this gap has long limited progress toward inclusive, representative and accountable governance and accountable governance. In the Maldives, continued efforts to expand women’s political participation remain important to further strengthening representative and responsive institutions. Women’s political participation in the Maldives remains constrained not by lack of interest, but by limited access to practical legislative experience, decision-makers, and pathways into formal politics. The latest iteration in the Practice Parliament for Women series which has been held since 2021, showed how investing in women’s leadership—when grounded in real institutions—can shift that reality.  

Held from 5–12 July 2025 at the Parliament - People’s Majlis, the programme brought together 36 women from across the Maldives, majority of them stepping into the parliamentary chamber for the first time. Delivered in partnership with the People’s Majlis and supported by the Australian High Commission, the initiative moved beyond traditional leadership training. With UNDP’s technical leadership, participants engaged directly with the work of lawmaking—reviewing draft legislation, debating policy choices, and examining how laws affect women, marginalized communities, and society at large. 

For many, the experience was transformative. Through UNDP-facilitated legislative practice sessions, women gained not only knowledge of parliamentary procedures, but the confidence to question, negotiate, and lead. Dialogue with sitting Members of Parliament and engagement with civil society organisations further strengthened their understanding of the political ecosystem and the pathways to influence within it. 

The impact is already visible. One in five participants (52 women) have indicated their intention to contest in the April 2026 local council elections (including the party primaries), signalling a shift from participation to political ambition. Since 2021, the programme has reached 262 women, including 18 women with disabilities, building a diverse and growing pipeline of future leaders. 

By placing women inside the heart of democratic institutions, UNDP is helping transform aspirations into action—strengthening the foundations of a more representative democracy and ensuring that women are not just present in politics, but shaping its outcomes. This sustained intervention reinforces UNDP’s long-term contribution to inclusive democratic institutions and advances national progress toward gender-responsive governance and the SDGs. 

Photo credits: People's Majlis Secretariat | UNDP