Dr Ahmed Shaheed
former Foreign Minister of the Maldives

Dr Ahmed Shaheed served as Foreign Minister in the government of President Gayoom, from 2005-2007, and was the leading reformer who helped guide the transition to democracy. Before becoming Foreign Minister, he served as the first ever Chief Government Spokesman in the Maldives. He resigned as Foreign Minister in 2007 after a no-confidence motion in the Majlis (Parliament) tabled by opponents of reform. In 2008 President Nasheed appointed him Foreign Minister in his government. He stepped down in 2010 and currently serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran. He is the co-founder of New Maldives, and founder of the Open Society Association in the Maldives, both organisations working for human rights and democracy.

On 5 May 2009, the Washington-based think-tank, Centre for the Study of Islam and Democracy conferred their annual Muslim Democrat of the Year Award to Dr Shaheed. The citation for the award read that it was being given to Dr Shaheed in recognition of his "role in building democracy and preserving it in the face of hardship, for promoting tolerance and harmony, and for opening a window into a century of reason, freedom, human rights and democracy in the Maldives and in South Asia”. Dr Shaheed is a Visiting Fellow at the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex and will join the University of Essex next month as Visiting Professor of Human Rights Practice. 

Dr. Farah Faizal
former High Commissioner of the Maldives to the United Kingdom

Dr. Farah Faizal was the High Commissioner of the Republic of Maldives to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from March 2009 to February 2012. She also served as Ambassador of Maldives to France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark.

Starting out as a Research Officer in 1989 in the President’s Office in Malé, Maldives, she advanced to the position as Senior Research Officer in 1991 and worked in the position for a year. Between 1996 and 1998 she worked for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Between 1998 and 2008 she worked as an independent analyst and consultant with the research speciality of security problems of small island states, gender and international relations. She was also part of the movement to establish democracy in the Maldives, liaising with various human rights organizations in the UK to bring an end to the human rights abuses in the Maldives. 

Dr. Farah Faizal graduated from University of Keele in 1989, UK, with a BA in International Relations, and in 1991 she completed her M. Phil in International Relations at the University of Cambridge. In 1996 Dr. Faizal obtained a PhD in Politics from the University of Hull, UK. She also co-edited a book on gender and security, “A clearing in the thicket: Women, Security, South Asia” published by Sage in 2005.

Following the coup d’état in the Maldives on the 7th of February 2012 that overthrew the democratically elected government of Maldives, Dr. Faizal resigned from her post in protest. Since her resignation she has been appointed the Spokesperson in Europe for the Maldivian Democratic Party. 

Mr Abbas Faiz
Amnesty International

Abbas Faiz is a senior researcher on South Asia with Amnesty International. In this position, he has investigated human rights violations in a range of countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives, and has reported on his findings. He has gained in-depth knowledge of these countries through years of research, travel and interaction with people. He is the author of scores of Amnesty International reports, statements and briefings on these countries.

In the course of his work he has met with senior government officials and ministers. He has engaged in dialogues on behalf of Amnesty International with authorities at the highest level, including Prime Ministers and Presidents. 

He has also led lobbying missions on behalf of Amnesty International to countries interested in supporting the development of human rights in South Asia. These have included countries of the European Union.

Prior to joining Amnesty International, he has worked as a journalist with the UK newspaper, The Guardian, and with the BBC World Service.

Abbas Faiz’s academic background is in Cultural Studies (University of London) and Peace Studies (University of Bradford).

Mr Ahmed Shiaan
Acting High Commissioner of Maldives

Ahmed Shiaan is the current Acting High Commissioner of Maldives to the United Kingdom, a position he has held since March 2012. Additionally, in October 2012 Mr Shiaan became the Acting Head of Mission for the Maldives Embassy to Belgium and Maldives Mission to the European Union.

Since joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives in 1996, Mr Shiaan has acquired a wealth of experience at the Foreign Ministry and at overseas missions to become one of Maldives’ most seasoned career diplomats. He has not only served at both the London High Commission and the Permanent Mission of Maldives to the United Nations in New York, but also held a range of positions at the Foreign Ministry ranging from Head of Division to Head of Department. He has also been Director of the Foreign Service Institute of Maldives, conducting diplomatic training courses for Maldivian Foreign Service officials, and served on a number of National Committees focusing on the environment, health and security.

Mr Shiaan has represented his country at a multitude of international meetings and conferences in over 40 countries across 5 continents. He has also coordinated and organised dozens of international meetings, conferences and seminars, including Heads of Government visits to and from Maldives.

Mr Shiaan holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Economics (Bangalore University, India), a Masters Degree in International Relations (Heidelberg University, Germany), and Post Graduate Diploma is Security Studies (Hawaii, USA). Additionally, he has completed number of training courses in diplomacy, international negotiation, security studies and environmental diplomacy in India, Malaysia, UK, Germany and USA respectively. In addition to his mother tongue Dhivehi, Mr Shiaan is a fluent speaker of English, German, and Hindi. He is married with two children, and is a certified diver.