Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra

Shirin Aumeeruddy-Cziffra is a politician and diplomat from Mauritius (but not born in Mauritius). Aumeeruddy-Cziffra is also the first Muslim woman to be elected as a member of the National Assembly and to serve in a ministerial position as well as holding the position of Ombudsman for protection of children's rights from 2004 to 2011.

A lawyer by profession, she started working on women's and children's rights during her early years. Along with 19 other women, she fought against the Immigration and Deportation Acts, which prevented spouses of foreign officials from seeking resident status. She won the case in 1981, and as Minister of Women’s Rights and Family Affairs from 1982 to 1983, she amended the law. She also served as the Mayor of Beau Bassin-Rose Hill in 1987.

She heads of the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal (PBAT), which settles disputes of civil servants and local communities in matters related to recruitments and sanctions from 2009.

Early Career

Her native language is Mauritian Creole, while she speaks English and French. Aumeeruddy-Cziffra completed her law degree from the Inns of Court School of Law in Great Britain. She was a women's activist in her early years and started Ligue Féministe in 1974, Solidarité Femmes in Mauritius in 1977. Along with 19 other women, she fought against the Immigration and Deportation Acts, which prevented spouses of foreign officials from seeking resident status. The case was argued with two set of victims, namely married women and single women espoused by the foreign officials. The court initially accepted only the case of married women.^[1] She eventually won the case in 1981 and as her capacity as a Minister of Women’s Rights and Family Affairs from 1982 to 1983, she modified the law. She became the Mayor of Beau Bassin-Rose Hill in 1987.^[2]

Career

Aumeeruddy-Cziffra served as the Ambassador to Paris, Rome, Madrid and Lisbon between 1992 and 1995, Ambassador to UNESCO, Former Minister of Mauritius for Women's Rights and the Family, Member of Parliament in Rose-Hill, Attorney General for the Government of Mauritius between 1982 and 1983, Minister of Justice of Mauritius, Former President of the Permanent Council of the Francophonie, the International Organization of the Francophonie (OIF) for 44 French Speaking states, Board member of the Agency of the Francophonie, Former Chairperson (Chairman) for Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Board of Directors Member of the Institute for Human Rights & Development (Gambia), Board Member of NGO Femme Africa Solidarité, and founding member of NGO Women in Law and Development in Africa.^[3] She was the head of the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal (PBAT), which settles disputes of civil servants and local communities in matters related to recruitments and sanctions.^[4] Durign 2015, she was reappointed for a term of three years.^[5] Aumeeruddy-Cziffra is also the first Muslim woman to be elected as MP and to serve a ministerial position as well as holding the position of Ombudsman for protection of children rights from 2004 to 2011.^[2]

Awards

Aumeeruddy-Cziffra was conferred an honorary doctorate from the University of Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne in 2004 for introducing a faculty of law to Mauritius and service overall. She received the Tombouctou Award in 2006 for her peace initiatives in Africa with FAS. She was also appointed as Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs on 14 July 2015.^[2] She is married to teacher and the pair have two children.^[6]

References