Tahirih Justice Center

The Tahirih Justice Center "is a nationally recognized Washington, DC area-based organization that enables women and girls fleeing gender-based violence to access justice in the United States through high-quality pro bono legal services and bridgebuilding public policy advocacy." pdf

In 1999: "Tahirih, in partnership with the Feminist Majority Foundation, establishes the Afghan Women Project." "I 2001 "Afghan Women and Children Relief Act becomes law. A Tahirih client and former board member, Farida Azizi, at the invitation of the White House, provides remarks on behalf of Afghan women at the signing ceremony."

"Tahirih’s annual fundraising benefit is our single largest income-generating event of the year, as well as an important platform for spreading awareness about the plight of women and girls in need. Distinguished keynote speakers and participants have included Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Senator Joseph R. Biden, Senator Sam Brownback, Congressman James Moran, Assistant Secretary of State Harold Koh, human rights activist Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, Hauwa Ibrahim, and Oscar-nominated actress Debra Winger."

On May 13, 2009, their website noted:


 * "The Tahirih Justice Center is thrilled to announce that actor Sam Waterston, of the critically acclaimed NBC television show Law & Order, will be the Keynote Speaker and honored guest at Tahirih’s 2009 Annual Fundraising Benefit scheduled for September 30, 2009, at the Carnegie Institution of Washington. During the evening, we will be joined by Congressman Jim Moran and fellow supporters to celebrate the courageous women and girls served by the Tahirih Justice Center. Moreover, we are honored that Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan will, for the fourth year, serve as the Honorary Chair of the Benefit Committee...


 * "Tahirih would also like to thank our generous 2009 sponsors Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Covington & Burling LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, Shell Oil Company, and Steptoe & Johnson LLP for their generous support as 2009 Corporate Benefit Sponsors at the Sponsor Level and higher;..."

The Center is a member of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking, and the Freedom Network (USA)

2002
Michael Maggio received the Tahirih Justice Center’s (TJC) Pushing the Envelope award.

2004
Hauwa Ibrahim received the Pushing the Envelope Award.

2005
"The awards included The Pushing the Envelope Award, presented to The Meyer Foundation for the tremendous support and encouragement they have provided to Tahirih over the years; the Pro Bono Award, presented to Arnold & Porter LLP for their dedication and excellence in representing Tahirih clients and for winning a landmark case against an International Marriage Broker; and the Volunteer Service Award, presented to Dorothy Rudzik for her creative efforts in helping Tahirih achieve a professional public image."

2006
"The awards included the Law Firm of the Year Award to Crowell & Moring, Pushing the Envelope Award to Altria Group, Inc., Pro Bono Award to Buzz Hawley of Van Scoyoc Associates, and Volunteer Service Award to Ivi Kolasi."

The 2006 BENEFIT COMMITTEE was composed of Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Honorary Chair; Maye Aghazadeh, LuAnn Bennett, Kathleen Behan, Lynda Clarizio, Laurie Plessala Duperier, Karen Hofmeister, Barbara Krumsiek, Michael MacLeod, Hamid Samandari, James J. Sandman, Victoria Sant

2007
This year, Tahirih presented three awards—hand painted artwork by children of Tahirih clients—to two organizations and an individual who have shown an extraordinary commitment over the years to furthering Tahirih’s mission and to ending violence against women. The awards included the Law Firm of the Year Award to Covington & Burling LLP, the Pushing the Envelope Award to Eileen Fisher, and Volunteer Service Award to Leslie Nickel."

2008
In 2008 the Center "recognized Congressman James Moran with the Pillar of Justice Award for his committed efforts to protect women and girls fleeing human rights abuses and his tireless support of the Tahirih Justice Center...

"Tahirih also presented three additional awards—hand painted artwork by children of Tahirih clients—to two organizations and an individual who have shown an extraordinary commitment over the years to furthering Tahirih’s mission and to ending violence against women. The awards included the Law Firm of the Year Award to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, the Pushing the Envelope Award to Trellis Fund, and Volunteer Service Award to Samar Al Rayyis."

Executive Team
Accessed May 2009:


 * Rena E. Cutlip-Mason - JD, Director of Legal Service
 * Layli Miller-Muro - JD, MA, Executive Director
 * Maeve O'Higgins - MBA, Director of Operations
 * Jeanne Smoot - JD, MALD, Director of Public Policy
 * Allyn B. Summa - MA, Director of Development and Communications

Permanent Members (2003)
Accessed November 2008:


 * Anita Chapman
 * Larry Miller
 * Layli Miller-Muro, J.D., M.A.
 * Michael L. Penn, Ph.D.
 * Puran Stevens

2009
Accessed March 2009:


 * Laurie Plessala Duperier
 * Sarah J. Compter
 * Jacqueline Eghrari-Sabet
 * Sara Glenn
 * Paul Glist
 * Emmanuel Irono
 * Frank Kendall - chair
 * Warren Martin
 * Layli Miller-Muro (ex-officio)
 * Randall Miller
 * Jeannie H. Nguyen
 * Leah Rampy
 * Ruth
 * Lidia Soto-Harmon (A NEW PERSON)

2008
Accessed November 2008:


 * Laurie Plessala Duperier
 * Sarah J. Compter
 * Jacqueline Eghrari-Sabet
 * Sara Glenn
 * Paul Glist
 * Emmanuel Irono
 * Frank Kendall
 * Warren Martin
 * Layli Miller-Muro (ex-officio)
 * Randall Miller
 * Jeannie H. Nguyen
 * Leah Rampy
 * Ruth Sakwa

2007
Accessed March 2007:

Source
 * Gisele Celestine Djofang
 * Laurie Duperier
 * HRH Princess Dana Firas
 * Rachael Galoob-Ortega
 * Frank Kendall
 * Michael F. MacLeod
 * Barbara Miller
 * Layli Miller-Muro (ex-officio)
 * Leslie Nickel
 * Leah Rampy
 * Ruth Sakwa
 * Hamid Samandari

2003
Accessed November 2008:


 * Robert Ahdieh
 * Dawn Browning
 * Bo Cooper
 * Farida
 * Rachael Galoob-Ortega
 * MaryAnn Holohean
 * Michael F. MacLeod
 * Layli Miller-Muro
 * Leslie Nickel
 * Hamid Samandari
 * Allyn Summa

2001
Accessed November 2008:


 * Robert B. Ahdieh, J.D., Emory University Law School
 * Runa Alam, M.B.A., Emerging Markets Partnership
 * Mimi E. Alemayehou, M.A., C-Side Entertainment
 * Debbie Biller, B.A., XM Satellite Radio
 * Dawn M. Browning, J.D., Legal Services Corporation
 * Farida, Vital Voices Global Partnership
 * Rachael Galoob, J.D., L.L.M., Cole, Raywid & Braverman
 * Andra Grant, Independent Consultant
 * Layli Miller-Muro, J.D., M.A., Tahirih Justice Center (ex-officio)
 * Vasu Mohan, M.S., International Foundation for Election Systems
 * Leslie Nickel, J.D., Arnold & Porter
 * Michael Sozan, J.D., Arnold & Porter
 * Marti Thomas, J.D., Quinn Gillespie & Associates
 * Marla Zometsky, National Democratic Institute

2000
Accessed November 2008:


 * Robert B. Ahdieh - Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division
 * Ufo Eric-Atuanya - Counsel, Congressman Charles Rangle, Senior Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means
 * Layli Miller Bashir - President - Attorney, Arnold and Porter
 * R. Martin Bashir - Gastroenterologist, Morowitz, Singer, Marion, Laessig, & Shocket
 * Andra Grant - Secretary - Special Assistant to the Chairman and CEO, Worldspace Management Corporation
 * Justin Greene-Roesel - Treasurer - Independent Consultant
 * Kathleen Behan - Partner, Arnold & Porter
 * Emily Mohajeri-Norris - Program Director, NAFSA, Association of International Educators
 * Marla M. Zometsky - Public Policy Group Coordinator
 * Mimi E. Alemayehou - Director of International Regulatory Affairs at WorldSpace Corporation
 * Rebecca Ellison - Research Coordinator, National Teaching Committee, Baha'i National Center

1998
Accessed November 2008:


 * Layli Miller Bashir, Founder, Tahirih Justice Center; Attorney, Arnold and Porter, Washington, D.C.
 * R. Martin Bashir, Gastroenterologist, Morowitz, Singer, Marion, Laessig, Shocket.
 * Mandy Enayati, International Development Consultant.
 * Sunita Gandhi, Economist, World Bank; President, Global Concepts.
 * Mona Grieser, President, Global Vision.
 * Margaret Handley, President, M.C. Handley, Ltd.
 * Michael Maggio, Managing Partner, Maggio Kattar; Adjuct Professor, Washington College of Law at the American University.
 * Jamie Raskin, Professor, Washington College of Law at the American University.
 * Atieno Samandari, Past Program Officer, Emergency Conflict and Peace, Oxfam, Kenya.

Board of Advisors (2009)
Accessed November 2008: (Same in March 2009)


 * Jamshid Amini - President and General Owner, American Executive Limousine Service, Washington, DC
 * Kathleen Behan - Counsel, Bailey & Ehrenberg PLLC, Washington, DC
 * Lynda Clarizio - President, Advertising.com, Baltimore, MD
 * Bo Cooper - General Counsel, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, Washington, DC
 * Mark Epstein - Attorney, Wendy H. Schwartz & Assoc., PLLC, Washington, DC
 * Karen Hofmeister - Author; CEO, Global Leadership Network, Houston, TX
 * Hauwa Ibrahim - Human Rights Attorney, Nigeria; Winner, The European Parliament’s top human rights award
 * Theresa Loar - Vice President, Global Strategies, CH2M HILL, Washington, DC
 * Clovis Maksoud - Former Ambassador, Arab League to the United Nations; Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law; Director, Center for the Global South, American University Washington, DC
 * Lorraine Riffle Hawley - International Affairs Analyst, Chevron Government Affairs, Washington, DC
 * Judge Dorothy Nelson - Senior Judge, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Pasadena, CA
 * Jan Pederson - Partner, Pederson Immigration Law Group, PC, Washington, DC
 * Jamin Raskin - Professor of Law, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC
 * Anita Chapman - Washington, DC
 * Larry Miller - President Emeritus, Miller-Howard Consulting, Atlanta, GA
 * Layli Miller-Muro - Founder, Tahirih Justice Center, Washington DC
 * Michael L. Penn - Professor of Psychology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
 * Puran Stevens - Director, Bahá'i Office for Refugees, Wilmette, IL

Board of Advisors (2007)
Accessed March 2007:

Source [[Media:Example.ogg]]
 * Jamshid Amini - President and General Owner, American Executive Limousine Service, Washington, D.C.
 * Kathleen Behan, Esq. - Partner, Arnold & Porter, LLP, Washington, D.C.
 * Bo Cooper, Esq. - General Counsel, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, Washington, D.C.
 * Mark Epstein - VP of Outreach and Communications, American Rivers, Washington, D.C.
 * Paul Glist, Esq. - Partner, Davis, Wright, Tremaine, LLP, Washington, D.C.
 * Hauwa Ibrahim - Nigerian Human Rights Attorney and winner of the European Parliament’s top human rights award.
 * Theresa Loar - CH2M HILL, Washington, D.C.
 * Michael Maggio, Esq. - Managing Partner, Maggio & Kattar, PC, Washington, D.C.
 * Ambassador Clovis Maksoud - Former Ambassador, from the Arab League to the United Nations; Professor, American University, Washington, D.C.
 * Lorraine Riffle Naughton - International Affairs Analyst, Chevron Government Affairs, Washington, D.C.
 * Judge Dorothy Nelson - Senior Judge, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Pasadena, CA
 * Jan Pederson, Esq. - Partner, Pederson Immigration Law Group, PC, Washington, D.C.
 * Jamin Raskin, Esq. - Professor of Law, American University, Washington, D.C.
 * Anita Chapman - Washington, D.C.
 * Layli Miller-Muro, Esq. - Founder, Tahirih Justice Center, Washington D.C.
 * Larry Miller - President Emeritus, Miller-Howard Consulting, Atlanta, GA
 * Michael L. Penn, Ph.D. - Professor of Psychology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
 * Puran Stevens

Board of Advisors (2003)
Accessed November 2008:


 * Jamshid Amini
 * Kathleen Behan
 * Mark Epstein
 * Michael Maggio
 * Clovis Maksoud
 * Judge Dorothy Nelson
 * Jan Pederson
 * Jamin Raskin

Board of Advisors (2000)
Accessed November 2008:


 * Sunita Gandhi
 * Patricia Locke
 * Clovis Maksoud
 * Judge Dorothy Nelson
 * Jamin Raskin

Board of Advisors (1998)
Accessed November 2008:


 * Judge Dorothy Nelson, Senior Judge, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Pasadena, CA.
 * Patricia Locke, Chair, International Native Languages Institute; Member, Lakota Tribe, Mobridge, SD.
 * Clovis Maksoud, former Ambassador, from the Arab League to the United Nations; professor, American University, Washington, D.C.
 * Kathrine Behan, Partner, Arnold Porter, Washington, D.C.

Center Supporters
Accessed November 2008:

Foundations and Governmental Agencies
 * Altria Group, Inc. “Doors of Hope”
 * Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation
 * Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation
 * Bridgeway Charitable Foundation
 * Cafritz Foundation
 * Community Foundation for the National Capital Region
 * Four Freedoms Fund
 * JEHT Foundation
 * Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation
 * Moriah Fund
 * The Sister Fund
 * Steven and Sheila Miller Foundation
 * Trellis Fund
 * Urgent Action Fund
 * U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
 * Virginia Family and Children's Trust Fund
 * Virginia Law Foundation
 * Washington Area Partnership for Immigrants, Emergency Assistance Program
 * Washington Area Women's Foundation
 * Women's Bar Association

Corporations and Other Organizations
 * Altria Goup, Inc.
 * American University, Washington College of Law
 * Anonymous
 * Arnold & Porter, LLP
 * Calvert
 * ChevronTexaco
 * Cole, Raywid & Braverman, LLP
 * Creative Associates International, Inc.
 * DaimlerChrysler
 * Eileen Fisher
 * Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
 * Exelon Corporateion
 * ExxonMobil
 * Hogan & Hartson, LLP
 * Illumine, LLC
 * Jones Day
 * Kircher, Inc.
 * Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
 * Lifetime Television
 * Maggio & Kattar, P.C.
 * Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C.
 * Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
 * Quinn Gillespie & Associates
 * Respect: A Musical Journey for Women (www.respectamusicaljourney.com)
 * Sony Corporation of America
 * Steptoe & Johnson, LLP
 * Tahirih Justice Center Washington Lawyers' Network
 * John Whitehead
 * Wilmer Cutler & Pickering
 * Wisconsin Energies, Inc.

Contact

 * Web: http://www.tahirih.org

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Karen Musalo
 * Charles Piot in: Rogaia Mustafa Abusharaf, ed. Female Circumcision: Multicultural Perspectives p. 224. "...they [the arguments by the lawyers and the media] evoked and inserted themselves into a genealogy of racist stereotypes about Africa that have long mediated the West's relationship to the continent. In so doing, they glossed over complex local realities and once again fictionalized and fetishized Africa as the West's Other."
 * Nazanin Afshin-Jam
 * Sergio Pessolano - photographer
 * Irena Susan Lieberman
 * Shonali Shome - former volunteer