DeLand, Fla. – Darfur genocide survivor and human rights activist Niemat Ahmadi will speak at a free public event at Stetson University at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27.

Darfur genocide survivor Ahmadi Niema will speak at Stetson University Feb. 27.

Hosted by Stetson’s STAND, a Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, Ahmadi’s talk will be held in the Rinker Auditorium of the Lynn BusinessCenter, 345 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. It is co-sponsored by Kaleidoscope, the Social Justice Advocacy Organization and the CrossCultural Center, all at Stetson.

A native of North Darfur, Ahmadi is the director of global partnerships for United to End Genocide. She has worked with NGOs in the fields of emergency response, development, women’s empowerment, hunger and technology and, in the United States, on policy advocacy on genocide and mass atrocities. She served as an advisor at the seventh round of inter-Sudanese Darfur peace talks in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2006. In her position, she promotes collaboration between the coalition and the Darfuri Diaspora within the United States and abroad.

While in the United States, Ahmadi has traveled broadly, sharing her story and the stories of others to promote genocide education and to educate American people about the long-standing crises in Sudan. She has focused on the impact of genocide on women and testified about the use of rape as weapon of war before United Nations Security Council in New York, UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and many other testimonies before the U.S. Senate and the Security Council to demand justice for genocide crimes committed in Darfur.

She is a founding member of the Darfuri Leaders Network, a coalition of 23 domestic Darfuri organizations working to promote justice, peace and security in Darfur, and also founded Darfur Women Action Group. She was educated at Ahfad University for Women inKhartoum and, in 2008, was recognized by President George W. Bush as one of the eight global human rights fighters for freedom of their people.

Founded in 1883, Stetson University in Central Florida is an independent university that provides a transforming education in the liberal arts tradition. Stetson stresses academic excellence and community-engaged learning, and consistently earns high national rankings. In 1982, Stetson was awarded a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. The College of Arts & Sciences, School of Business Administration andSchool of Music are located at the historic campus in DeLand. The College of Law is in Gulfport/St. Petersburg. The university also has two satellite centers: the Tampa Law Center and the Stetson University Center at Celebration near Orlando. More information: University Marketing, 386-822-8920. Stay Connected with Stetson on social media.