To: All concerned individuals and organisations in Noonu Atoll

The Youth of Noonu Atoll say NO to violence against women and invite all of you to sign our petition, we need 3,000 signatures by 25 November 2011! 

Dear Islanders,

We feel that violence against women is INTOLERABLE yet it has been ignored for and it is not seen as the crime that it is. Violence takes on all forms of abuse, physical, verbal, sexual, and emotional. It has devastating effects the most horrendous being permanent disability or death of the victim. All victims and their families are left with permanent scars and sometimes the victim never recovers. No one is ever completely healed and they often have to struggle to live with the scars.

As you know that Maldives belongs to too many Islands, and Without Island wise co-ordinated strategies to end violence, especially against children and women, we believe things will only get worse. But it isn't just about our governments; it is also ABOUT US, all of us as individuals. It is our duty to stop violence against women and end the impunity to this crime.

The alarming facts:

• 1 in 3 Maldivian women aged 15-49 experience Physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime. 

• Domestic Violence is the least shared and reported form of gender based discrimination, which victims are mainly women and children 

• Many women do not seek help or report violence when it occurs

• Workplace Harassment is a common problem in the offices.

We feel that all persons have a right to exist without fear. We, young Maldivians can definitely stop violence against women now!

If you agree that violence against women is a crime:

• act upon your conviction and stop violence against women in your day to day life

• talk to your friends, family and community members to end violence against women

• be a change agent and an Ambassador for women's rights

• denounce domestic violence, rape and sexual harassment as an abuse and an outrage to women, girls, their family and the whole society

• hold your government accountable for punishing violence against women and for stopping impunity

• please sign this petition and forward it to your friends and contacts. We aim to receive 3,000 signatures by 25th November 2011

Your signature counts as action!