Rameela nominated for HRCM with watchdog chief’s term set to expire soon

Dr. Aishath Rameela, who resigned from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet last year amid a battle with cancer, has been nominated for appointment as a member of the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM).

Rameela had tendered her resignation from the role of Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare on December 1, 2024.

She has now been nominated by President Muizzu to replace Mariyam Muna, the president of HRCM, whose term at the rights watchdog will expire on November 30.

The letter seeking approval for her appointment was read at the Parliament on Thursday as it reopened after a one-month recess. It has now been sent to the Human Rights Committee for vetting.

The HRCM is composed of five members:

• Muna, president
• Mohamed Shafeeg Mahmood, vice president
• Samau Ahmed Najeeb
• Ismail Habeeb Abdul Rahman
• Ahmed Magsoom

A PhD holder, Rameela was appointed to head the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare – a new ministry – on November 17, 2023.

On November 29, 2023, Rameela announced that she had been diagnosed with advanced metastatic serous papillary carcinoma - a highly malignant form of ovarian cancer.

She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy as part of her treatment, before she tendered her resignation last year.