AUWCL Welcomes 2018-2019 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows
August 27, 2018
American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) is pleased to welcome the 2018-2019 Humphrey Fellows from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, South Sudan, Turkey, and Uganda.
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is a Fulbright Exchange activity sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State.
Fellowships are granted competitively to professional candidates around the world who show a commitment to public service in both the public and private sectors. American University (AU) has served as a host institution for the Humphrey Program since 1980 and AUWCL is currently the only law school in the country hosting the program.
Five out of twelve Fellows this year specialize in trafficking in persons issues. Darlene Pajarito, who serves as a Philippine National TIP Specialist, is considered one of the staunchest anti-trafficking advocates in the Philippines. She helped to secure Philippine’s first sex trafficking conviction in 2005 and the second labor trafficking conviction in 2011. As an EU Affairs Expert within the Turkish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Hilal Beycan works as a technical expert in the fields of migration, human trafficking, and organized crime. Another Fellow, Imran Shahid, has serves as a deputy director of the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan, where he focuses on human trafficking and white-collar crime. Sivabalan Suppiah is a dedicated engineer and law enforcement professional with over 16 years of experience in both private and public service capacities, currently serving as an officer with the Royal Malaysia Police.
The cohort also has Humphrey Fellows who will conduct research on governance, economic and financial crimes, disability rights, anti-discrimination, and anti-torture, as well as other human rights issues. Coumba Ndokh Ndiaye's scholarship focuses on the mechanisms that combat economic and financial crime in Senegal. During her Humphrey Fellowship year, Coumba will gain resources that will help her achieve her goal of ending trafficking and child exploitation in her community. Dev Datta Joshi is a senior disability rights lawyer focusing on inclusive education, legal capacity, access to justice, and de-institutionalization of persons with disabilities in Nepal. During his Fellowship at AUWCL, Joshi will be researching the Americans with Disabilities Act, legal representation of people with disabilities, and the relationship between disability rights and international human rights. Guot Gabriel Guot is an attorney and civil society activist from South Sudan. He founded the organization Greater Upper Nile Concerns Youth for Peace and Stability (GUNCY-PAS) and Gabriel Law Firm LLP. As a Humphrey Fellow, Guot will be developing new human rights awareness initiatives in order to encourage adherence to the rule of law in South Sudan. Lubna Nasser is a dedicated advocate for human rights and anti-torture legislation in Jordan. During the fellowship, Nasser will continue to focus on the victims and survivors of torture as she builds skills in public policy formation and decision-making. Nino Elbakidze established the Human Rights Advocacy and Democracy Fund in Georgia. She has written multiple publications on human rights and is currently interested in conflicts within occupied territories of Georgia. Defending human rights in Georgia will remain a priority through Elbakidze's Humphrey Fellowship year. Predrag Raosavljevic is the assistant ombudsmen and the head of the anti-discrimination department for the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During his year at AUWCL, he expects to learn how conceptions of equality, differing legal cultures, and varying government engagement can create more effective ways to combat the unequal treatment of citizens. And Winfred Kyobiika Naigaga, a district court judge with the Ugandan Judiciary and the Treasurer of the Uganda Judicial Officers Association. During her Humphrey Fellowship, Naigaga plans to focus on judicial strategies in curbing gender-based violence.
For the duration of their Fellowship, the 2018-2019 Humphrey Fellows seek to learn from various programs and resources available at AUWCL and to become instrumental in the change desired in their respective countries.
The Fellows will continue to facilitate their research at AUWCL through classes and engaging in panel discussions and presentations.
The school is delighted to host the 2018-2019 Humphrey Fellows, as their work on the campus enriches and empowers AUWCL community.
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