Aminath Shauna
Shauna Aminath (born 31 January 1985)[1] is a Maldivian politician and the current Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Technology of the Maldives.
Her Excellency Aminath Shauna | |
|---|---|
| އާމިނަތް ޝައުނާ | |
 Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2021 | |
| President | Ibrahim Mohamed Solih |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shauna Aminath January 31, 1985 |
| Education | Westminster College |
| Profession | Policy advisor |
Early life
Shauna Aminath is a native of the Maldives. Aminath began activism in the ninth grade, where she spoke out against government policies in a school debate. She attended Pearson College UWC in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, for two years and earned her bachelor's degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in 2008.[2] She worked for former president Mohamed Nasheed and is now president and policy secretary of the Maldivian Democratic Party youth wing.[3] She returned to the Maldives.
Government work
Aminath worked as Nasheed's deputy undersecretary. During his presidential term, the government worked to show the world how much climate change and the sea level rise would effect the Maldives.
The military forced Nasheed to resign on February 7, 2012, in a coup d'état. Aminath constructed a statement after the president's resignation stating her concern and called for a new, free election. This caused uproar with the opposing party vying for control of the country. Aminath was arrested on September 17, 2012. She was released five days later upon the conditions that she not participate in protests for the next twenty one days. Aminath was arrested on several other occasions due to police forces trying to break up peaceful demonstrations and rallies.[4]
Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Technology, 2021–present
In May 2021, Aminath was appointed Minister of the Environment, Climate Change, and Technology for the Maldives.[5]
Aminath, along with Teresa Ribera, led the working group at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference that facilitated consultations on mitigation.[6]
Activism
Aminath works for the Maldivian Democratic party as president of the youth wing and to return the party to power. She is active in voicing her concerns for her country and climate change. She is involved with many organizations that aid the global refugee issue. Some of her work can be seen in the documentary The Island President,[7] which follows the story of former president Nasheed.
References
- ^ "Shauna Aminath Helps Remake Maldives Government". Davis UWC Scholars. 2008. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ Westminster College (17 October 2013). "Fighting for Democracy: Westminster Alumna Shauna Aminath". Westminster College News. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
- ^ Geiger, Abigail. "Maldives' Shauna Aminath describes her path to activism at Westminster College". The Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ Rockson, Gregory (18 July 2012). "Maldivian Democratic Party Youth President Arrested". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "President appoints two new Cabinet Ministers and Policy Secretary". The President's Office. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ Letter to Parties and Observers, 16 November 2022 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
- ^ Shenk, Jon, The Island President, OCLC 914226214