about children’s rights to participation will help tackle the prevailing culture of stressing academic excellence over children’s overall happiness and wellbeing. Education There is a distinct lack of a proper understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of the UNCRC and its recognition of children as the subjects of the rights to participation it enshrines. In addition to their being insufficient lessons in the curricula to encourage the development of children as active citizens in the Maldivian democracy, there is also a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of democracy itself. Arising from the intense politicisation of the whole society and the chaos of democratic transition, Maldivian understanding of democracy has come to be reduced to partisan political fighting. Instead of being home to institutions where such misconceptions are put to right, the Maldivian education system currently strengthens them by banning political discussions in classrooms rather than teaching students the true meaning and values of democracy. The new national curriculum, currently in draft stages, includes plans for more lessons in democracy and active citizenship and would go a long way in increasing both teachers’ and children’s awareness of their rights and responsibilities. In addition to this, teachers and other professionals who are involved in looking after children on a day to day basis should be provided more training on the UNCRC with particular emphasis on the importance of children’s participation. Efforts should also be made to remedy the current misconceptions regarding democracy among policymakers, teachers and parents who equate partisan political fighting with the very concept of democracy. Healthcare When it comes to matters regarding their health, children do not have access to information in a language they can understand, written in a manner commensurate with their development. Neither are there many facilities that are particularly child friendly at hospitals and other healthcare service centres. Creating awareness among doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals about these rights of children would assist in dispelling some of the strong negative opinions that children and parents currently have about the unappealing ‘bedside manner’ of Maldivian doctors when compared with their expatriate contemporaries or doctors abroad. In situations of violence More awareness needs to be created among the general public about the mechanisms available for help to children who find themselves in situations of violence. Not many children currently know the national child helpline. Seminars and other events that discuss violence against children, in a way that corresponds with their age and development, should be held more often within and outside of schools. Adults, too, need to be more aware of the nature and types of such abuse, and need to be informed of the fact that most often violence against children are committed within the family or by someone known to children. Play There are currently no legislative mechanisms that recognise and provide to assure children’s right to play. Within schools, children are frustrated that there is no Physical Education classes available to them. They are even more unhappy that there is, literally, no space for them to play sports in the whole capital city. This is a lack acutely felt by not just the average child, but also by children with special needs who have absolutely no play areas designated for them. New regulations have to be 70