By: Kenanao Keemenao MotlhoiwaA mother should not have to choose between feeding her baby and protecting her own wellbeing. Yet, too often, the support surrounding breastfeeding focuses on the baby while the mother’s emotional needs go unseen.Maldives has done something many countries have not: it has won the fight for child survival. Newborns who once would not have lived through their first days now do, across even our smallest and most remote island communities. Breastfeeding has been part of that story and rightly remains a national health priority. But alongside this progress sits a quieter, less examined reality. Across the islands of Maldives, in the hours after a child is born, two things are happening at once. A mother is learning, often for the first time, how to feed her baby. And she is also often silently finding her way through one of the most emotionally demanding periods of her life. We have long spoken about the first challenge. We have not spoken nearly enough about the second. What the evidence tells us Postpartum depression and anxiety affect millions of women worldwide, and Maldivian mothers are no exception. For many women living across our dispersed islands, the early weeks of motherhood can be isolating. A mother who is struggling to breastfeed may have no lactation counsellor nearby. A mother experiencing anxiety or depression may have no mental health professional to turn to, and perhaps no other new mother with whom to share her experience.  Too often, our health systems, our workplaces, and our communities treat infant feeding and maternal mental health as two separate issues, addressed by different people at different times. But for mothers, they are deeply connected.  Research on breastfeeding and maternal mental health is nuanced. Some studies find that breastfeeding is associated with lower rates of postpartum depressive symptoms, possibly through hormonal pathways, improved sleep, and a growing sense of confidence and closeness with the baby. Other studies find no such protective effect once additional factors are considered.  What the evidence does show clearly is that the relationship works both ways. Depression and anxiety can make it harder to establish and sustain breastfeeding. At the same time, mothers who want to breastfeed but struggle—because of pain, low milk supply, exhaustion or inadequate support—may experience guilt, distress and a profound sense of failure. The lesson is simple: breastfeeding alone does not protect a mother’s mental health. What matters is whether she is supported, listened to and cared for throughout the experience. Breastfeeding should never depend on a mother’s endurance alone.  Every postnatal contact should therefore become an opportunity to ask two equally important questions: How is your baby feeding? And how are you feeling? They were never really two separate questions. This raises an important question for us: how do we build a system in which a mother’s emotional well-being is supported alongside her baby’s feeding. This begins with a simple shift: treating breastfeeding and maternal mental health as one conversation, not two. Breastfeeding is more than a feeding method; in the earliest days of life, it connects a mother’s physical and emotional well-being with her baby’s health. What must change I believe three things are within our reach for sustainable support systems that this year's World Breastfeeding Week is calling for us to build.  First, health workers in health centres and hospitals across the atolls need the skills and time to ask new mothers “how are you feeling”. Perinatal depression and anxiety are common and treatable conditions, not signs of weakness or failure. Early screening and appropriate referral integrated into postnatal care and breastfeeding support can identify distress before it deepens. Second, we must protect mothers from guilt. A mother who finds it difficult to breastfeed has not failed her child. Mothers need accurate information and practical support to make informed feeding decisions, not pressure, shame, or unrealistic expectations. Our responsibility is to support breastfeeding while always protecting the dignity, agency, and mental health of every mother. Third, we must invest in the conditions that make both breastfeeding and maternal wellbeing possible: adequate maternity leave, workplaces and public spaces that accommodate new mothers, peer support networks that reach mothers, and family and community members equipped to recognise when a new mother needs help.  Supporting breastfeeding is not solely a mother’s responsibility. It is a shared responsibility. The strength of the system around her, from her home, her community, the places she shops at, or works at, or communes with others at, will often determine whether she can continue. Call to action This World Breastfeeding Week, under the theme “Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” I call on health workers to check on a mother’s emotional well-being as carefully as they monitor her baby’s growth. I call on employers to provide mothers with the time, space and flexibility they need to breastfeed or express milk safely and with dignity. I call on partners and policymakers to integrate breastfeeding support and maternal mental health into postnatal services across every island. And I call on families and communities to create room in their lives for mothers to breastfeed freely, and to notice when a mother is struggling, to listen without judgement, offer practical help and reach out rather than turn away. To every mother across Maldives who is awake tonight, wondering whether her baby is feeding enough, and whether she herself is coping: please reach out to a health worker, family member or trusted friend. Asking for help is not a sign of failure. It is an act of care for yourself and your baby. 

This article is first published at UNICEF Maldives website on Breastfeeding, mental health, and the care our mothers are owed | UNICEF MaldivesTo learn more about the works of UNICEF Maldives Please go to UNICEF Maldives

The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises of Maldives and the Ministry of Finance of Pakistan, convened a four-day workshop as the first peer learning activity of the Borrowers’ Platform. The workshop was opened by the Hon. Minister of State for Finance and Public Enterprises, Mr. Hassan Miras, and the UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives, Mr. Hao Zhang. It brought together technical officials from nine countries spanning different regions, income levels, and debt profiles to exchange experiences on debt management and the development of domestic capital markets.The discussions focused on practical, country-level experiences with a shared focus: the practical steps countries can take to develop domestic capital markets and manage their risk profiles, built on sound analysis, functional institutional framework, and enabling international financial architecture. Debt management practitioners from participating countries shared their recent experiences, including the challenges navigated and progress made. The exchanges underscored a shared reality: many borrowing countries face similar constraints, yet they have historically lacked a dedicated forum to share and learn from each other directly.The Platform is a dedicated space for developing countries to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and speak collectively on debt challenges of borrowers. When borrowing countries finally have a dedicated space to exchange among peers, the impact is immediate: first-hand practitioner knowledge flows, common challenges bring forward solutions proven in similar contexts, and hesitation can be turned into action.As the inaugural peer-learning event of the Borrowers' Platform, the workshop demonstrated the value of structured dialogue among borrowing countries and laid the foundation for deeper cooperation, in the years ahead.The initiative of Borrowers’ Platform was launched in April 2026, with many developing countries and UN Secretary-General António Guterres in attendance. The establishment of the Borrowers’ Platform was agreed under the Compromiso de Sevilla, the outcome document of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Seville, Spain in July 2025. The Platform will inaugurate its first full annual cycle in October 2026. Member states are looking forward to additional workshops, technical exchanges, and collaborative activities that will create new opportunities for borrowing countries to share knowledge, strengthen capacity, and build a stronger presence within the global debt architecture.The message emerging from Malé was clear: when countries facing similar debt and development challenges come together, they generate practical solutions rooted in lived experience. As many developing countries, including Maldives, navigate complex landscapes to strengthen debt sustainability, this workshop signals the first step to turn these peer learning exchanges into a lasting network of cooperation, one that strengthens learning, fosters cooperation, and amplifies the collective voice of borrowing countries in global debt discussions.

Youth Voice: This article was written by Sarraa Shah a 19-year-old youth advocate to highlight the lived realities, challenges, and aspirations of young Maldivian women seeking opportunities within the tourism sector. On the small island of Fulidhoo, where the rhythm of life follows the tides and the sun, 20-year-old Zara wakes before dawn. The sea that surrounds her home is the same sea that carries thousands of tourists each year to luxury resorts—places filled with opportunity, yet just out of reach.Zara lives with her parents, both in their 50s, and her two younger siblings, aged five and eight. Like many families across the Maldives, her household can no longer rely on a single income. She knows she must work. She wants to work. And like many young Maldivian women, she dreams of joining the tourism sector, the backbone of her country's economy.But for Zara, this dream comes with a painful question: Who will take care of her family if she leaves?A Dream Interrupted by RealityTourism jobs in the Maldives are rarely close to home. Resorts are scattered across isolated islands, often requiring workers to live on-site for weeks at a time. For Zara, accepting a job would mean leaving her siblings behind, missing their school milestones, their laughter, and their need for guidance.No childcare facilities in staff accommodations.No family housing.No easy way to return home after a shift.Even a single day off is often consumed by long, exhausting travel across the atolls.For Zara, working in tourism does not just mean employment; it means separation.The Hidden Cost for WomenZara's story is not unique. Across the Maldives, women face systemic barriers that make participation in tourism difficult:Many women leave their jobs after starting families, with little support to return.There are few re-skilling or re-entry programs.Flexible work arrangements are nearly non-existent.Senior roles are often filled by expatriates rather than local women.Despite hospitality being deeply rooted in Maldivian culture, women like Zara struggle to move beyond entry-level roles, or even to enter the workforce at all.Imagine the contrast: about 65% of tourism workers are expatriates, even though policies aim for a majority local workforce. The gap between policy and reality leaves many capable Maldivian women without opportunities.A Workforce Gap—and an OpportunityIn the coming years, the tourism sector will need up to 25,000 workers, yet only a fraction of that number will come from the local population. This gap presents a powerful opportunity: investing in Maldivian women.Imagine if Zara could work at a resort that offered:Safe, accessible childcare.Family-friendly accommodations.Flexible rotation allows meaningful time at home.Mentorship programs pairing local workers with experienced professionals.These changes would not just transform Zara's life; they would strengthen families, communities, and the entire economy.Zara's FutureZara still dreams of working in tourism. She imagines welcoming guests from around the world, sharing her culture, and earning enough to support her family.But she also dreams of being present—for her siblings, for her parents, and for the life she already has.She should not have to choose.Be Part of the ChangeYour contribution can help create a future where women like Zara do not have to leave their families behind to build a career. A future in which the tourism industry reflects the people and culture of the Maldives.Support initiatives by the UNFPA and help unlock the potential of thousands of women, because when Zara succeeds, her whole community rises with her. This article is first published at UNFPA Maldives website on Investing in the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation: Why Sustained Commitment Matters in the Maldives   To learn more about the works of UNFPA Maldives Please go to maldives.office@unfpa.org.(3) UNFPA Maldives (@UNFPAMaldives) / X UNFPA Maldives (@unfpamaldives) • Instagram photos and videos

An opinion editorial by Dr. Edward Addai, UNICEF Representative to MaldivesEvery parent remembers a moment when they wished a child came with an instruction manual: whether it was the sleepless nights of infancy, the first day of school or the difficult conversations that emerge during adolescence, parenting does not come with a one-size-fits-all kit. In fact, it is one of the most important responsibilities any person can undertake, yet it is also one of the few for which no formal training is provided. For generations, parenting knowledge was passed down naturally within families and close-knit communities. Grandparents, neighbours, aunts, uncles, teachers, and community leaders all played an essential role in guiding children and supporting caregivers along the way.Today, however, these traditional support systems are changing. Across Maldives, as in many parts of the world, families are raising children in contexts that are more complex and fast-moving than ever before. Parents are navigating a world shaped by digital technologies, evolving family structures, economic pressures, climate uncertainty, and rapidly shifting social expectations. These changes are opening new opportunities for children, but they are also placing new demands on caregivers.In this context, the need to better support parents and caregivers is not only timely—it is essential.Families: the first layer of protection and development Families are the first and most important environment in which children grow, learn, and develop. Long before a child enters school, interacts with public services, or engages with wider society, they experience the world through their relationships with parents and caregivers.These early relationships shape children's health, learning, wellbeing, confidence, and ability to thrive throughout their lives.The evidence is clear: when parents and caregivers are supported, children are more likely to grow up healthy, safe, educated, and protected. Positive parenting contributes to stronger emotional wellbeing, improved educational outcomes, reduced exposure to violence, and greater resilience.This is why parenting is not simply a private family matter. It is a child rights issue, a development issue, and an investment in the future of society.The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises parents as the primary caregivers and guides in a child's life. At the same time, it recognises that governments, communities, and institutions share responsibility for creating the conditions that enable families to fulfil this role.Parenting support as a shared system of responsibilityToo often, parenting is viewed as a responsibility that families must navigate alone. In reality, parents' ability to provide the care, protection, and guidance children need is shaped by the systems and support available around them. Whether it is health services providing advice on child development, teachers engaging caregivers in children's learning, workplaces adopting family-friendly policies, or social workers, health professionals, educators, and community leaders working together to strengthen families, each contributes to supporting parents in their vital role. Parenting support is therefore not a single programme or intervention; it is an ecosystem of services, policies, and social norms that enables families to help children grow up safe, healthy, educated, and protected.In Maldives, UNICEF is working with government partners to strengthen this ecosystem through initiatives such as the Beleniveriyaa - Joint Positive Parenting Programme, which provides parents and caregivers with practical knowledge and skills to support children's healthy development, positive behaviour, learning, and wellbeing. By creating opportunities for parents to learn, reflect, and connect with others facing similar challenges, the programme helps strengthen caregivers' confidence and capacity to nurture children in a rapidly changing world.Such initiatives demonstrate that supporting parents is not simply about providing information. It is about creating sustained systems of support that empower families and contribute to stronger outcomes for children. Many of the challenges affecting children and adolescents today—including mental health concerns, violence, school disengagement, and online risks—cannot be addressed by children themselves, nor by parents acting in isolation, but stronger systems around families.Strengthening systems that enable parenting As Maldives advances its development agenda, the focus must shift from recognising the importance of parenting support to ensuring that it is consistently embedded within national systems and delivered at scale.This means moving from fragmented efforts to a coordinated approach where parenting support is integrated across health, education, and social protection services. Every contact point between families and public systems should serve as an opportunity to strengthen parenting knowledge, confidence, and practice.It also requires ensuring continuity of support across the full trajectory of childhood and adolescence. Parenting needs are evolving over time, from early nurturing and protection in infancy to guidance, communication, and trust-building during adolescence. Systems must therefore be designed to adapt alongside these changing developmental stages.Equally important is ensuring equity of access. Families across all islands must be able to access timely, relevant, and culturally appropriate support, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status.Within this context, initiatives such as the Beleniveriyaa programme reflect an important shift toward embedding parenting support within existing service delivery platforms, rather than treating it as a standalone or optional intervention. This approach helps ensure that parenting support becomes a consistent and integrated feature of how services are delivered to families.Strengthening these systems is not an additional layer of investment; it is central to improving outcomes for children and ensuring that national progress is both inclusive and sustainable.A collective commitment to children and families Global Parenting Month is not only a moment to recognise the dedication of parents and caregivers. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm what the evidence has long made clear: no parent raises a child alone, and no child thrives in isolation.Children’s outcomes are shaped not only within the home, but by the environments in which families live, learn, work, and access services. When these environments are supportive, predictable, and inclusive, parents are better equipped to provide the care, guidance, and stability that children need at every stage of development.This is why strengthening support for families must be a shared national priority. It requires sustained commitment across government, schools, health systems, workplaces, communities, and civil society to ensure that parenting support is not fragmented or dependent on circumstances, but consistently available to every family.As Maldives continues its development journey, the challenge is not the absence of commitment from parents. It is the need to ensure that systems and institutions are equally strong in supporting them, so that every caregiver, in every island, has access to the knowledge, services, and enabling conditions needed to raise children who can thrive.UNICEF remains committed to working alongside the Government of Maldives and partners to strengthen these systems, expand access to quality parenting support, and ensure that every child grows up in a safe, nurturing, and enabling environment.The future of the Maldives will be shaped by the children growing up today. That future will be determined not only by the dedication of families, but by the strength of the systems that stand behind them. This article is first published at UNICEF Maldives website on Parenting in a changing Maldives: why supporting parents matter now more than ever To learn more about the works of UNICEF Maldives Please go to UNICEF Maldives