Maldivian wins ‘International Woman of Courage’ award

Ms. Mariya Ahmed Didi, MP (of the Maldivian Democratic Party), is being recognized by the US State Department for promoting women’s rights.  Ms. Mariya (photo) is the regional winner from South and Central Asia of the U.S. Secretary of State’s International Woman of Courage Award.

U.S. Secretary of State Ms. Condoleezza Rice will present Ms. Mariya Didi with the prestigious award at a ceremony in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the State Department in Washington DC on 8 March, International Women’s Day. This is the first year the Secretary of State is presenting such an award, recognizing six honorees from separate geographic regions and an additional six recipients from Iraq and Afghanistan.

During March 2006, after the Police arrested Ms. Fathimath Shiuna, (a popular model and well known activist for the Maldivian Democratic Party), from her home at midnight, Ms. Mariya not only registered her outrage, she planned and led the first ever women’s rights rally in Maldives. Hundreds of women participated in the women’s rights rally she organized.

A U.K trained barrister, Ms. Mariya Didi had overcome many obstacles in her work, including intimidation, harassment, arrest, and slander. She had been assaulted by the Police at opposition rallies and run off the road on her motorbike by a car full of government supporters, and hurled with abuse and bags of oil.

Ms.Mariya Didi continues to defend MDP supporters in several court cases, and plays a major role as a branch President and MP for the Party.