Zifleena Hassan has bagged Excellence in Equality and Diversity Award

Zifleena Hassan has bagged Excellence in Equality and Diversity Award

• January 02, 2022

Zifleena Hassan was born into a politically prominent family based in Huvadhoo province of the Maldives. Zifleena graduated with a Bachelor of Arts at University of Abertay Dundee in 2010. Her Master’s Degree  was in Business Administration from the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. She was  appointed as the Minister of State for Gender, Family and Social Services by H.E. President Ibrahim  Mohamed Solih on the 19th of August, 2019. She is currently a national council member of the Maldivian  Democratic Party as the President for the Southern Constituency of GDh. Thinadhoo, and a board member  of ARTDO International (Asia Region Training and Development organization). She also played an active  role to curb the coronavirus pandemic as the elected delegate of the GDh. atoll. 

Prior to becoming active in politics, Ms. Zifleena Hassan worked in the education sector,  teaching secondary school and was involved in community education programs. As a dedicated  educationalist, she displayed a high degree of professionalism and resourcefulness with a solid  commitment to the social wellbeing and academic development of every child. Whilst serving  as an educator, she was appointed by the then Government as a member of the Atoll  Development Committee, which was mandated to plan, implement and organize the  developmental activities, both at island as well as at atoll levels. 

Political Career: 

In 2006, along with other pro-democracy demonstrators, Zifleena joined the non-violent pro-democracy  movement led by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), the first opposition party formed during the  Gayoom era, which called for the end of the 30-year iron-fisted rule of Gayoom Regime, and demanded  greater democratic reforms to the Maldives. 

Since 2006, Zifleena actively took part in these peaceful street demonstrations carried out by the MDP  across Maldives, which called for the restoration of democracy in the Maldives. Notably, as MDP’s  democratic revolution began to widely disperse across Maldives, Zifleena actively took charge to  spearhead pro-democracy protests and movements from her native Huvadhoo Atoll and became a  prominent pro-democracy activist in the fight for Maldives’ democratic future. 

Zifleena remained an ardent supporter and member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and served  key roles in MDP’s women’s wing and health committee. During the 2013 presidential election, she  worked as a lead organizer for MDP in the Southern Constituency of Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo  Constituency; expanding her skills in grassroots campaign, electoral organizing and activism that has taken  her across the country. These experiences led to the realization of the important matters to the Thinadhoo  community and its need for a stronger voice. 

In 2014, Zifleena contested in the MDP’s democratic parliamentary primary as a relatively new face in  politics in the hopes to one day represent Gdh.Thinadhoo Constituency at the People’s Majlis of the  Maldives. Although she was not elected, she became well known for her powerful campaign – in particular  as she initiated to contest in the democratic primary, shortly after giving birth to her new-born baby, who  was only 3 months old at that time. 

“I Had a C-Section for my second child and continued my university classes within 28 days of delivery - even that never stopped me. Being a mother doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been working on these 

issues for over 10 years. I entered politics to make change that would better serve Thinadhoo’s people  and all Maldivians” 

Despite the progressive campaign, she faced a great deal of discrimination, gender stigma and sexist  attacks during her campaign. It was mainly driven by gender-specific motivations and discrimination,  especially as Zifleena, was the first woman from Gdh.Thinadhoo Constituency to challenge the patriarchal  traditions which discriminates and rejects women’s leadership. She strongly believes that it’s every  woman’s right to participate in political decision-making, and women must be encouraged, empowered  and supported in becoming strong political and community leaders in the Maldives. 

During 2015, Zifleena played a pivotal role in organizing the mass protest held on May Day 2015, one of  the largest anti-government protests in Maldivian history calling for restoration of democracy and  fundamental human rights. As an active campaigner of the years-long reform movement, Zifleena was  often met with police brutality, intimidation and arrest. Despite facing such menace, Zifleena remained  firmly committed in her fight for democracy in the Maldives. The following year, in 2016, Zifleena got  elected as MDP’s President for the Southern Constituency of GDh. Thinadhoo Constituency. 

In 2019, Zifleena ran for the second time in the MDP’s 2019 parliamentary primary, but this time she only  lost by a single vote in a contentious GDh. Thinadhoo Constituency primary race. 

“I was the only woman among more than five men who contested for the position. In the past also, I  experienced multiple forms of discrimination. They used to tell me ``You don’t have the strength or the  financial means” and that I was unfit for the position, but this time, what struck me the most was, how I  was targeted via slander campaigns and how they labeled me as an, ‘impoverished woman.’ Am I an  impoverished woman, because I chose my right to education? Because I choose to effectively raise my  kids and have a balanced work and family life? Because I care about the future of our Thinadhoo people?” 

During the primary elections, Zifleena was subjected to a barrage of vitriol, threats and even violence. She  was attacked and abused during her political activities held in Thinadhoo island, and she sought for police  protection fearing for her life as well as of her family and kids. 

“The patriarchal society we live in is killing women’s leadership roles. As women, we still have a lot of  distance to cover in terms of occupying the political spaces and fighting it out with men, because that is  what will guarantee us the respect that we deserve. My fight is for Thinadhoo’s people and for their  aspirations. I have great faith in our people, and together we will build a better Thinadhoo for all of  Thinadhoo’s people." 

During the August of 2019, H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih appointed Zifleena as a state minister at the Ministry of Gender, Family & Social Services. Zifleena played a pivotal role at the Ministry in  introducing the Geveshi Gulhun Campaign, a nationwide campaign to combat domestic violence and  encourage women’s empowerment. Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic, H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed  Solih also appointed Zifleena as a delegate of the GDh. Atoll. In this role she assisted to curb the  coronavirus pandemic in GDh. Atoll and assisted the government in initiating a coordinated pandemic  response in GDh. Atoll and to protect those most at risk and advance equity. 

In October 2021, Zifleena ran for re-election as MDP’s President for the Southern Constituency of GDh.  Thinadhoo Constituency and handily won her re-election. With this re-election she strongly believes that  her movement didn’t just win, but earned a mandate to bring change that would better serve Thinadhoo’s  people. Zifleen remains committed to serving the people of Gdh.Thinadhoo and to advocate for social and  economic justice in her home island. She is passionate about making a tangible difference in the Thinadhoo community and remains among the most influential and inspirational women figures in the  Maldives. 

Thank you remarks: 

I am honored to receive such a prestigious award on behalf of the women icon. Looking forward to meet  all the great women leading at the ceremony. I am earnestly grateful for the recognition to receive this  award “Excellence in Equality and Diversity Award”. I sincerely thank my family. My children, Misk, Falak, Malik; my father Hassan Didi; my siblings, Amjad,  Ahmed, Jeeza and Nazira; my aunts, uncles, relatives; and my close friends. They have accompanied me  throughout the rollercoaster journey. Without their support I could not have proudly hold up this award  as a symbol of my achievements. This is just the start of a new beginning.