Ahead of International Women's Day, we're shining a light on the courageous human rights defenders advancing gender equality, and emblematic cases litigated by our team and partners to seek accountability for violence against women. This month's spotlight features dedicated advocates including:
- RFK Human Rights' own staff, led by President Kerry Kennedy, who work together to make Senator Kennedy's vision a reality by partnering with grassroots human rights defenders and young leaders in the U.S. and abroad;
- Our founder Ethel Kennedy, who championed causes like fair wages and humane working conditions for farmworkers; and
- Iranian activists Nasrin Sotoudeh and Reza Khandan, who have endured imprisonment for their unwavering support of women's rights in Iran.
Read on for the full feature, which also includes downloadable lesson plans that explore themes related to women's rights and gender equality, encouraging students to become defenders of human rights. Explore the spotlight →
Every day, we work to advance human rights by demanding accountability from governments, elected officials, corporations, and others in positions of power—but we don't do it alone. We rely on support from people like you, and this International Women’s Day, we ask you to stand with us. ?
- RFK Human Rights in The Business Standard—Bangladesh’s New Digital Laws Under Scrutiny: A February 25 statement made by human rights organizations, including RFK Human Rights, raised concerns over Bangladesh’s fast-tracked digital law reforms. The Business Standard reported on this criticism over the lack of transparency, particularly regarding amendments to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, which could enable internet shutdowns and surveillance.?
- Anthony Enriquez in The Tennessean—As U.S Justice Advocates, We Hold CoreCivic Responsible for TN Understaffing Woes: In The Tennessean, a letter to the editor written by Anthony Enriquez, VP of U.S. Advocacy and Litigation at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, exposes how private prison industry executives have exploited small-town workers while enabling the inhumane treatment of detainees—all for their profit.
- Sarah Gillman in the Investigative Post—ICE Abuse of Detainees in Batavia Facility: Recently released federal audits of ICE detention facilities in Batavia have exposed the inhumane and abusive treatment of detainees by facility guards. An article published by the Investigative Post featured?Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights' Director of Strategic U.S. Litigation?Sarah Gillman, who has represented detainees held in Batavia. Speaking on the facility, Gillman stated, “It’s supposed to be civil detention, but it’s run, in many ways, like a maximum security, criminal facility.”
