Azima Shukoor - Woman of courage

03 November 2007
Report: Soodh

By: Kan'bulo

The news of Azima Shukoor's appointment as the new Attorney General has ended months of speculation. Many see Azima's rise to the cabinet a well-deserved promotion of her courage and hard work. She rose to fame and popularity after her very vocal representation as President's member at the the People's Majils and People's Special Majlis. Coming from a legal background and with her eloquence Azima soon made her debut in the Majlis. She was one of the few women members who relentlessly fought for her cause during lengthy and heated debates in both Majlis. Azima made a record in the Special Majlis to have spoken in the maximum number of meetings because of a continued long spell of point of orders raised by some members who wanted to disrupt her speech.

Azima has been one of the most active members of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party, DRP. From the inception she has played a key role in awareness and promotional activities of the party. As a strong activist for equal rights and opportunities for women, she has lobbied hard for the cause often against many challenges, but she was able to bring to light many difficult problems faced by women. Because of her deep commitment for empowerment of women, Azima won much respect and popularity from the party and across the country. Thus she was elected as the President of the Women's Committee of the DRP. Azima was a fearless campaigner for the August referendum. She often met with people who opposed the position of her party and spoke to them with respect and restraint. Understanding and respecting others is one of Azima's rare virtues. She was one of the few who came under attack frequently by opposition and media and nothing could stop her steadfastness.

Azima was also a very outstanding student in her school. From her school days she excelled in literary and oratory skills. These were very useful for her chosen career of law. In the beginning of her government service, Azima worked in the Attorney General's Office, Home Ministry and she has held the post of Deputy Home Minister for the past two years. This was one of the most difficult and challenging job Azima has undertaken. She has to face and tackle some of the most difficult problems which arose in the jail. She played an important role in the jail reform program.

Azima has created history by becoming the first women Attorney General of the country. This is very significant considering her supreme efforts for the cause of women in the Maldives. During her visits to the islands, she has spoken to the people on many occasions about the importance of empowering women and enabling them to assume a bigger role in public life. She has called all women of the Maldives to become more active in politics and more women to contest in parliamentary elections.

With Azima assuming the important post of Attorney General, she will have 3 other women colleagues in the Cabinet, Aneesa Ahmed, Zahiya Zareer and Aisha Mohamed Didi. It is hoped that more women will take ministerial posts and indeed contest and win parliamentary elections.