President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has appointed Aishath Azima Shakoor as Principal Secretary to the President for National Territory and Sovereignty, at ministerial level.
Azima Shakoor is an experienced public figure who has previously held several senior positions in the government and state. She is the Maldives’ first female Attorney General and has served on the Cabinet during three presidential administrations. She has also previously served as a Member of Parliament and as a member of the Constitutional Assembly.
Azima Shakoor holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of London and a Master of Laws from the University of Western Australia. She is a prominent and respected lawyer in the Maldives, with more than 30 years of experience in the legal profession. Throughout her career, she has worked extensively on governance, constitutional matters, law reform and legal research. Her contributions to the formulation and implementation of the government’s 2004 reform agenda are also highlighted.
Shakoor is also a co-founder of the women’s rights organisation Hope for Women and 'Faalange', an organisation working to protect the rights of people with disabilities. In addition, through her private legal practice, she has provided free legal advice to victims of sexual and domestic violence.