Speaking Politics: Communication, Language, and Women’s Participation in Governance in the Maldives
Our first research project funded by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), explores how communication and literacy shape women’s political participation in the Maldives. We examine communication in two ways: as expression, focusing on how women speak and engage in political spaces, and as reception, looking at how their voices are interpreted, framed, and valued by media, institutions, and society.
By examining language, confidence, and civic engagement, the study highlights both the barriers women face and the opportunities for greater inclusion in leadership and decision-making. The findings were presented at the Civil Society Parliamentary Network Forum 2026, a collaboration between Parliament and WFD, contributing to national-level dialogue on governance and participation.
