Niumath Shafeeq has been appointed as the Children’s Ombudsperson, as stipulated under Article 113 of the Child Rights Protection Act.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih made the appointment on Thursday morning.

The president forwarded Niumath’s name as a nomination for the post, for parliamentary approval on June 16. While the nomination was forwarded to the human rights and gender committee, a vote was taken on Monday.

70 lawmakers had voted in favour of Niumath’s appointment as Children’s Ombudsperson.

While the appointment of an Ombudsperson is crucial to the implementation of the Child Rights Act which came into law in February, she is responsible for ensuring the privacy and security of children.

The parliament approved a monthly salary of MVR 35,000 for the Children’s Ombudsperson, back in May.