Strengthening the Justice Response to Domestic Violence: ODARA Training Held in Laamu Atoll

28-29 October 2025 - Laamu Atoll, Maldives: With support from the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Family Protection Authority (FPA), the Maldives Police Service (MPS), and the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO), conducted a two-day Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) training for police officers in Laamu Atoll.

The training marks an important step in introducing a standardized, evidence-based approach to assessing and managing the risk of domestic violence in the Maldives. ODARA; an actuarial tool widely used internationally - helps law enforcement and justice professionals estimate the likelihood that an individual who has committed domestic assault will reoffend.

Through the training, officers learned to apply ODARA's structured risk factors and scoring system to strengthen early intervention, protection planning, and coordinated case management. Certified local trainers from FPA, PGO, and MPS, who completed their ODARA certification earlier this year, facilitated the sessions.

The initiative forms part of the Accountability and Integrity Matters (AIM) project, funded by the European Union, and aims to strengthen the capacity of criminal justice institutions to respond effectively to domestic and gender-based violence.

A second round of training will be held in the Greater Malé Region before the end of the year, followed by the pilot rollout of ODARA across two regions of the Maldives. The insights from these pilots will help inform national policy and establish a consistent framework for assessing and managing domestic violence risks across institutions.

Together, UNDP and partners are helping build a justice system that is data-informed, survivor-centered, and responsive to the realities of communities across the Maldives.