Gender Minister Shidhatha Shareef has revealed that it has been over a year since the Gender Ministry's center in Gaafu Alif atoll has been vacant.

Speaking during the Parliament Committee on Human Rights and Gender meeting regarding the rape of a 2 year old child in GA. Kanduhulhudhoo, Minister Shidhatha noted that the atoll centers of the Ministry were in poor conditions and added that they have been working on getting an employee to their center in Gaafu Alif atoll for over an year.

She further added that there were problems in recruiting employees for essential areas and added that the Ministry had always received a smaller budget. She further highlighted that the budget for the current year is however better than what they have received before.

The Minister also revealed that the social workers who work at the Ministry and in the atolls are each handling about 50 to 60 cases each. Regardless of that, every time a case comes to light all works are done to attend those who are in need.

The great grandfather (81), grandfather (62) and father (33) have all been arrested in connection to the rape case in Kanduhulhudhoo. All of their remand periods has been set for 15 days.