EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

DATE: 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2017

EVENT: Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, a champion of human rights and the environment, will take part in a University of Michigan panel discussion about how global challenges of climate change, environmental justice, human rights and democracy converged in the Maldives and explore possible ways forward as the next presidential election in the Maldives looms in 2018.

The panel will also feature Nasheed’s lawyer Jared Genser and Rebecca Hardin, associate professor of natural resources and environment. It will be moderated by Kiyoteru Tsutsui, director of U-M’s Donia Human Rights Center.

In 2008, Nasheed became the first democratically elected president in the history of the island nation of the Maldives. During his presidency, he witnessed and tried to save his country from the rising sea levels resulting from climate change. It is part of the critically acclaimed documentary film “The Island President.”

Afraid that he would expose the rampant corruption on their watch, powerful players in the previous regime conspired to force him out of presidency, imprisoned and persecuted him.

With his health deteriorating, he found exile in London with the help from international lawyers Genser, Amal Clooney and Ben Emmerson. He continues his efforts to promote democracy in his homeland and is now poised to pursue the presidency again.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be livestreamed at myumi.ch/6Qy2O.

PLACE: 1636 School of Social Work Building, 1080 S. University Ave., Ann Arbor

SPONSORS: Donia Human Rights Center, International Policy Center, Graham Sustainability Institute, International Institute, Program in International and Comparative Studies, Center for South Asian Studies, Department of Sociology

INFORMATION: myumi.ch/L1wZo