Maldives Democracy Network (MDN)’s Executive Director Shahindha Ismail has been elected the Secretary General of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), an international non-governmental human rights organization.
Shahindha announced her elected via a post on Facebook on Tuesday in which she described her election as FIDH’s secretary general as an honor.
“For more than 100 years, FIDH has embodied the fight for universality, equality, justice, and solidarity, standing firmly against fascism and all forms of oppression. To carry forward this legacy is both humbling and extremely motivating,” she added.
Shahindha underscored the importance of FIDH movement at present to advance decolonization and cross-regional solidarity in these times of rising authoritarianism and persistent colonial legacies.
In this regard, she emphasized the need to earn from one another, stand together, and re-imagine what justice can mean across borders.
She also congratulated the newly elected board, adding she is inspired by the commitment and courage they bring to this shared journey. She expressed that she is looking forward to continue this journey together to defend rights, nurture solidarity, and keep the century-old flame of resistance alive.
Shahindha is the only Maldivian only the newly elected FIDH board. Three other secretary generals were elected to the organization alongside Shahindha: Soraya Gutiérrez Argüello from Colombia, Aïssa Rahmoune from Algeria and Drissa Traoré from Ivory Coast.
The International Federation for Human Rights is a non-governmental organization advocating for human rights established in 1922. In operation for over 100 years, it is the third-oldest international human rights organization worldwide.
Shahindha has been living abroad for years after fleeing the Maldives amidst the controversial report by MDN that included statements against the tenets of Islam.
She has held the post of the president of the Police Integrity Commission from 2019 to 2012.