Aneesa Ahmed

Aneesa Ahmed
އަނީސާ އަހްމަދު
Ahmed in 2013
Deputy Speaker of the People's Majlis
In office
2008–2009
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Mohamed Nasheed
Minister of Gender, Family Development and Social Security
In office
11 November 2003 – 13 September 2004
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Preceded byHerself
Succeeded byAishath Mohamed Didi
Minister of Women’s and Social Security
In office
9 October 2002 – 11 November 2003
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Preceded byRashida Yoosuf
Succeeded byHerself
Personal details
PartyDhivehi Rayyithunge Party (until 2011)
Progressive Party of Maldives
Alma materPennsylvania State University

Aneesa Ahmed, NIIV (Dhivehi: އަނީސާ އަހްމަދު) is a Maldivian politician and women's rights activist who served as the Deputy Speaker of People's Majlis from 2004 to 2009.[1]

Education

Ahmed was one of the first people to do the Cambridge O-Level's in the Maldives.[2] She studied as a Humphrey Fellow at Pennsylvania State University from 1985 to 1986.[3]

Career

Early career

Ahmed started working as a sister at the government hospital on 7 June 1973.[2] She later started to work in the foreign industry as a lawyer for the Ministry of External Affairs.[2] She then worked at the President's Office for seventeen years in the foreign relations section, becoming the first Maldivian woman to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.[2]

Political career

She was also appointed as the Minister of Women’s and Social Security from 2002 until 2003 where she was appointed as the Minister of Gender, Family Development and Social Security.[4] She also served as the Minister of Health and a Minister at the President's Office.[2]

In 1997, she was appointed as the President's Member of the People's Majlis.[2] Later in 1999, she was appointed as the Member of the People's Majlis for Mulaku Atoll.[2] In 2005, she was appointed as the Chief Whip for the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party's parliamentary group.[2] In 2008, she was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the People's Majlis.[2] During her time as a member of the People's Majlis, she introduced bills and advocated for women's development and needs.[2]

In 2011, she joined the Progressive Party of Maldives.[5]

Activism

While serving as the Deputy Minister of Women's Affairs in Maldives, where she brought up the subject of domestic violence although it was taboo to do so.[3] After her service in government, she founded the non-governmental organization "Hope for Women" and led sessions about gender-based violence with police, students, and others.[6] When the national radio of the Maldives began to feature religious scholars who claimed female genital mutilation was supported by Islam, she asked the government to intervene, and talked publicly about the harm caused by female genital mutilation.[1]

She received a 2012 International Women of Courage Award.[1][7] She was the second Maldivian woman to receive an International Women of Courage Award.[8]

She also served as the President of the Family Protection Authority's board.[2]

On 26 July 2013, Aneesa received the Order of Izzuddin by President Mohamed Waheed Hassan.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "2012 International Women of Courage Award Winners". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "ނިޝާން ޢިއްޒުއްދީންގެ ޢިއްޒަތުގެ ވެރިކަން (ނ.ޢ.ޢ.ވ) - އަނީސާ އަޙްމަދު" [Order of the Distinguished Rule of Izzuddin (N.I.I.V) - Aneesa Ahmed]. The President's Office (in Divehi). Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Maldivian Humphrey Alumna Wins 2012 International Women of Courage Award". United States Department of State. 15 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "Former Ministers of the Ministry of Gender and Family" (PDF). Ministry of Social and Family Development (Maldives). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Naish, Ahmed (16 October 2011). "PPM approves party constitution, council and logo at inaugural convention". Maldives Independent. Retrieved 6 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Aneesa Ahmed". American Women for International Understanding. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  7. ↑ Hamdhoon, Ahmed (10 March 2012). ""International Women and Courage Award" is an added impetus: Aneesa Ahmed". Haveeru Daily. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Maldives: US awards Aneesa Ahmed 'International Woman of Courage' award". International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "The Most Honourable National Award conferred to President Gayoom". The President's Office. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
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