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Rashida Yoosuf

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Rashida Yoosuf
ރާޝިދާ ޔޫސުފް
Yoosuf in 1989
Dhivehi Dhaulathuge Minister
In office
2011–2013
PresidentMohamed Waheed Hassan
Mohamed Nasheed
High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka
In office
12 October 2002 – 2004
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Minister of Women’s and Social Security
In office
11 November 1998 – 9 October 2002
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Succeeded byAneesa Ahmed
Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare
In office
6 November 1996 – 11 November 1998
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Succeeded byHerself as Minister of Women's and Social Security
Minister of Youth Women’s Affairs and Sports
In office
11 November 1993 – 6 November 1996
PresidentMaumoon Abdul Gayoom
Succeeded byHerself as Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Welfare
Personal details
NationalityMaldivian
Other political
affiliations		Progressive Party of Maldives (?–2025)
SpouseUmar (deceased)
Children1

Rashida Yoosuf (Dhivehi: ރާޝިދާ ޔޫސުފް) is a Maldivian politician and diplomat.

Early life and education

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Yoosuf moved to Malé when she was 6 years old and studied in Madhrasathul Saniyya, till grade 10.[1] She got a government scholarship to study in India for teacher training.[1] She received an opportunity to go to the Philippines for a teacher education course.[1] She also got an opportunity to do a school management course in Australia, as well as to do her master's degree at University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, where she completed the latter in 1988.[1][2] She received an award by then–president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1989.[1][2]

Early career

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Yoosuf started working as a teacher in Majeediyya School.[1] After completing the teacher education course, she worked at the Educational Development Centre for 4 years before becoming a Supervisor at Majeediyya School.[1] She was also the principal of Thaajuddeen School.[1]

Career

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Yoosuf first served as the Minister of Youth Women’s Affairs and Sports from 11 November 1993 to 6 November 1996, before the ministry underwent changes and was thus renamed to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, where she was the minister from 6 November 1996 to 11 November 1998, the ministry again was renamed to the Ministry of Women’s and Social Security, where she was the minister from 11 November 1998 to 9 October 2002.[2][3][4][5]

During her time as Minister, she attempted to open up discussion in the Maldives on the subject of domestic violence, but was unsuccessful.[6] She also brought up to the Committee on Rights of the Child on how Maldives' resources on welfare and resources to the development of children were stretched.[7]

In 2002, she was appointed High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,[8] becoming the first woman to reach such a high rank in the Maldivian diplomatic corps.[9] She was the High Commissioner for 2 years.[1]

Yoosuf was reappointed to the Cabinet in 2008 by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, which caused controversy which some described as nepotism.[10][11] In 2008, she received an award from the Maldivian government for her work in the field of women's issues over the previous quarter-century.[12]

In 2010, Yoosuf and Aneesa Ahmed founded "Hope for Women", a non-governmental organization that aims to eliminate violence against women.[1]

In 2011, she became Dhivehi Dhaulathuge Minister, holding that position until 2013.[5]

She was a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives.[13]

Personal life

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Yoosuf married Lucas Onyango, a Kenyan national. After Lucas converted to Islam, he changed his name to Umar.[1] Umar worked as a teacher in Aminiya School, before his death.[1] Yoosuf and Umar had one child named Amani.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Zahir, Zeena (19 July 2021). "ރާޝިދާ ޔޫސުފް: މިއީ އެކި ގޮތްގޮތުން ނަމޫނާ ކަނބަލެއް!". XeeTimes (in Divehi). Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "ސަރުކާރުން ދެއްވާ ޚާއްޞަ އިނާމު - 1989". The President's Office (in Divehi). Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  3. ^ "Former Ministers of the Ministry of Gender and Family" (PDF). Ministry of Social and Family Development (Maldives). Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  4. ^ "OnlineWomen: Maldives". Online Women in Politics. Archived from the original on 2018-03-31. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Maldives Ministers". www.guide2womenleaders.com. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  6. ^ Fulu, Emma (15 August 2013). Domestic Violence in Asia: Globalization, Gender and Islam in the Maldives. Routledge. pp. 28–. ISBN 978-1-136-01416-1.
  7. ^ "Committee on Rights of Child takes up report of Maldives". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 28 May 1998. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  8. ^ Razzak, N.U. Abdul (12 October 2002). "Appointed Maldives' Ambassador to Sri Lanka". Daily News. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  9. ^ "Maldives appoints first female diplomat". raajje.blogspot.com. 13 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
  10. ^ "The President appoints three Senior Ministers and four Ministers". Department of Information. 17 April 2008. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Maldives Dictator appoints the old guard to senior minister posts". Dhivehi Observer. 18 April 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  12. ^ s.c., BCS. "High Commission of the Republic of MALDIVES - "Women have an equally important role to men in ensuring that the democratic reform agenda is completed successfully", says the President". www.maldiveshighcommission.org. Retrieved 6 November 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  13. ^ "PPM does not belong to anyone in particular: Maumoon". Sun. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
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