Fareesha Abdulla

Fareesha Abdulla has worked as a government and private lawyer in Australia and Maldives for over 15 years. After graduating from the University of New England (New South Wales, Australia) in 2004 and completing legal practice training at the Australian National University in Canberra, Fareesha was admitted to the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in 2005.
 

She worked as a legal officer for the Australian Federal Government until 2009, before returning to Maldives as part of the President’s Office legal team.
 

In 2012 she began private practice in Maldives, specialising in criminal, family and administrative cases.  For six years Fareesha gave high priority to defending human rights in the Maldivian courts, often on a pro bono basis.  She maintains regular contact with other South Asian, East Asian and European human rights lawyers    

In November 2018, Fareesha was appointed to the President’s Commission of Inquiry into Unresolved Deaths and Disappearances in Maldives for the period 1 January 2012 to 17 November 2018.  She has led the Commission since 2020.  Its work required extensive and effective cooperation with the government agencies, international experts and organisations.

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Litigation
Fareesha is a dedicated advocate and has a broad range of experience working in the Maldivian justice system including right of audience before the Supreme Court and all other courts of the Maldives.
 

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor of Law, University of New England, New South Wales, Australia