The People's Majilis has approved President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s nomination of Aishath Mohamed Didi to the post of the new Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services.

The nomination was passed with the votes of all 68 members present at Monday's sitting.

President Solih sent Aishath’s name for parliament approval at a time the previous Gender Minister, Shidhatha Shareef forwarded her resignation, less than a day after the main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party’s Parliamentary Group voted to dismiss her from her post.

Aishath served as the High Commissioner of Maldives to neighbouring India prior to her appointment as Gender Minister.

She has experience in the field as well, having served as Gender Minister from 2005 to 2008 during the tenure of ex-President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

The previous Gender Minister had resigned at a time when many members of the public accused the ministry of taking inadequate measures against the rising number of child sex abuse cases surfacing in the country. Shidhatha was the first minister to resign from the Solih administration.