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The 2018 Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights

Defending Women’s Human Rights:Achievements, Obstacles, and Opportunities for Empowerment

Featuring a Keynote Address by:

Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan

Friday, April 6, 2018
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Gewirz Student Center – 12th Floor
Georgetown University Law Center
600 New Jersey Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

The 2018 Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights will feature a day of discussions with leading experts about the state of women’s human rights, including combating human trafficking, FGM, and child marriage, and protecting and supporting women’s human rights defenders around the world. The forum will provide an opportunity for speakers, panelists, attendees, and students to engage on a series of critically important topics impacting the fulfillment of women’s human rights.

The Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights was established by Professor Dash’s family and friends, Georgetown Law alumni, and the law firm of Cozen O’Connor following his passing in 2004 to honor his contributions to international and domestic human rights.

Conference Program

10:00 a.m.       Welcome Remarks, Andrew Schoenholtz, Director, Human Rights Institute, and Professor from Practice, Georgetown Law

10:15 a.m.        Rights of the Girl Child: Ending the Practices of FGM and Child Marriage

  • Susan Deller-Ross (Moderator), Director, International Women’s Human Rights Clinic, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
  • Anne-Claire Blok, Human Rights Advisor, Plan International
  • Susan Masling, Trial Attorney, Human Rights and Special Prosecutions, U.S. DOJ
  • Archi Pyati, Chief of Policy, Tahirih Justice Center
  • Lyric Thompson, Director of Policy & Advocacy, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and co-chair, Girls Not Brides USA advocacy coalition 

11:45 a.m.        Lunch and Keynote Address           

  • William Treanor (Introduction), Dean of Georgetown Law
  • Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Zeid of Jordan,Maternal and newborn health advocate

1:00 p.m.         Empowering and Protecting Women Human Rights Defenders

  • Ginna Anderson (Moderator), Senior Counsel, American Bar Association, Center for Human Rights Justice Defenders Program
  • Noorjahan Akbar, Human Rights Defender, Afghanistan 
  • Binalakshmi Nepram, Human Rights Defender, Founder-Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network & IIE-SRF Visiting Scholar
  • Cynthia Rothschild, Scholar, Independent Activist & Consultant
  • Lisa VeneKlasen, Executive Director and Co-Founder, JASS (Just Associates)

2:30 p.m.         Coffee Break

2:45 p.m.         Combating Human Trafficking of Women and Girls

  • Denise Brennan (Moderator), Professor and Chair, Department of Anthropology, Georgetown University
  • Holly Burkhalter, International Justice Mission 
  • John Cotton Richmond, Founding Director, Human Trafficking Institute 
  • Melysa Sperber, Director of Policy & Government Relations, Humanity United
  • Karen Stauss, Senior Policy Counsel, Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, U.S. Department of Justice

4:15 p.m.         Reception