15. The following f taable by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) sum mmarizes reeported casses in 3 numb ber with regard to VAW from 2008 to t 2010. Source: Dep partment of Judicial Administtration, Justicee Sector 16. The Study S on Women’s W hea alth and life experiencess also identified that “aapproximateely 10 perceent of wome en reported that their first f sexual experience e w either coerced or fo was orced and the t younger the girl att first sexuaal encounter, the moree likely it was w that sexx was forceed.” In recen nt years, thee media repo orts relating to gang rap pe has been on the increase. HRCM M in the ye ear 2010 to ook the inittiative to discuss this issue with all the releevant stakeeholders. Th he deliberations from these t meetiings highligh hted legislative gaps in n the legislations such h as inadequ uate Eviden nce Act. It was w also highlighted th hat the issu ue of defining consent in cases of rape was impeding justice to o victims of o rape. HR RCM’s propo osition highlighted the importancee of formulating an opeerative defin nition on rap pe as 4 the current c Penaal Code doees not classiffy it as a sep parate offen nce. Other isssues deliberated includ de the need d to create awareness a a among the general g publlic, importan nce of impro oving the medico‐legaal documentation, initiiating a program on creating a profiling seexual Chapter: Article 3: Equal Rights of Men and Women Source: Statistical Rep port 2010 Malldives Police Seervice & Maldivves Police Serviice 11