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Confronting Horror in Paradise

By on April 11, 2014
maldives

By staff writers at Avaaz

When a 15-year-old rape survivor in the Maldives was sentenced to be flogged When a 15-year-old rape survivor in the Maldives was sentenced to be flogged for also allegedly having consensual sex with another man, it put the global spotlight on these so-called paradise islands. Over 2 million Avaaz members signed a petition asking President Mohammed Waheed to intervene in the girl’s case and put an end to the practice of flogging altogether.  for also allegedly having consensual sex with another man, it put the global spotlight on these so-called paradise islands. Over 2 million Avaaz members signed a petition asking President Mohammed Waheed to intervene in the girl’s case and put an end to the practice of flogging altogether.

Avaaz lobbied at the highest levels of government in the Maldives and launched an advertising campaign targeting the tourism industry by exposing the reality of life for women in this island paradise. And in August the High Court finally dropped the outrageous flogging sentence (read more in The Independent). An Avaaz commissioned poll conducted amongst Maldivians showed that 92% of Maldivians want reform of laws and systems to protect women and 62% want to see a moratorium on flogging. With this progress in hand, Avaaz will continue campaigning to end this war on women in the Maldives.

To learn more about how to take action now visit www.avaaz.com

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