Right to Sexual and Reproductive Health Education 2016 This report also highlights that although antenatal services are available on all islands, there is still a great need for capacity building in the health sector in the Maldives where pregnant woman from the atolls are still referred to specialist doctors in the capital city, Male’. These women are considered more vulnerable as they are more susceptible to health related problems such as anaemia and undernourishment and these problems are often exacerbated due to lack of information available to the mothers. Maternal deaths due to unsafe abortions and infanticides are on the rise. Sharing needles to inject drugs, rise in extra marital sexual activities among adolescents, youth and commercial sex workers have increased the risk of the spread of STIs and HIV/AIDS throughout the country. Male reproductive issues like infertility, erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer are often overlooked by the society. Further, an increase in the number of breast and cervical cancer patients are being observed. The report also stresses that although the Constitution of the Maldives guarantees equal rights to men and women, the empowerment of women had not yet reached a satisfactory level. It further states that the main reason for this inequality is the prevalent cultural and traditional norms. The prevalent inequality that exists between men and women are presently being exacerbated with the rise of religious fundamentalism and conservative thinking. Although a greater percentage of the civil service employees are women, this number is greater in the stereotypical junior roles in education, health, manufacturing and agriculture than in the senior posts.5 In addition to the issues mentioned above, there is also a growing concern regarding the increase of violence and crime among adolescents and youth. 5 Riza, A. (2014). ICPD Beyond 2014.Maldives Operational Review, 2012 Progress, Challenges and Way forward. Published by Department of National Planning. 3 INTRODUCTION