Renowned Human Rights Advocate Chowdhury at UMaine
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — Asfan Chowdhury, the 2008 Colby College Oak Fellow whose wide-ranging career has drawn attention to numerous issues related to the fundamental tenets of human dignity, will give a Nov. 7 University of Maine presentation based on his film, “Who Cares if Bangladesh Drowns?”
The UMaine event, scheduled for 12 noon at Memorial Union’s Bangor Room, will include a showing of the internationally acclaimed film, followed by a discussion.
UMaine’s School of Policy and International Affairs (SPIA) will sponsor the presentation, the school’s fall semester 2008 lecture.
“Asfan Chowdhury has had a remarkable career, working in leadership roles in some of the world’s most effective human rights organizations,” says Prof. Bahman Baktiari, SPIA’s director. “As a journalist and filmmaker, he has also worked to shine a bright light on some of the most serious issues that plague societies in developing countries.”
From 1986-1994, Chowdhury was a UNICEF staff member, working on communication and information initiatives. In that role he worked on policy documents related to AIDS and media coverage in India and Nepal. More recently, he has worked on independent assignments for several international organizations.
His work has helped to improve public understanding of societal challenges related to multiple issues, including AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Diseases, children’s rights, refugee rights, minority identity, media rights and environmental concerns.