Member of the Month - November 2008

Zaynab Nawaz

Senior Women's Human Rights Campaigner, Amnesty Intl. USA
[WIIS Member since 2004 ]

With over a decade of experience working on gender and human rights, Zaynab Nawaz has been a Women's Rights Campaigner with Amnesty International since 2001. In her time at Amnesty, Zaynab has coordinated the International Stop Violence against Women Campaign through trainings and workshops with volunteer leaders and many intl. women's human rights defenders. She has also worked closely with researchers and various campaign teams to educate on issues like the missing women in Juarez and violence against women and girls in Darfur. Working from New York and Washington, DC, Zaynab has been an advocate outreaching to grass roots NGOs, the U.N. and on the Hill. Zaynab also has experience in fundraising, writing for the web and media work. She has participated in Amnesty research missions to interview 9/11 detainees in the U.S., domestic violence survivors in Turkey and most recently Native American survivors of sexual assault.

Zaynab holds a B.A. in Intl. Relations (Theory) & French from the College of William & Mary (U.S) & an M.A. in Intl. Studies & Diplomacy from the University of London, SOAS (U.K.)

Recent Project:

According to Amnesty International's 2007 report "Maze of Injustice – The Failure to Protect Indigenous Women from Sexual Violence in the USA," Native American and Alaska Native women in the United States suffer disproportionately high levels of rape and sexual violence, yet the federal government has created substantial barriers to accessing justice.

This report is based on research carried out during 2005 and 2006 by Amnesty International USA in consultation with Native American and Alaska Native organizations and individuals. The research draws on Amnesty International's interviews with survivors of sexual violence and their families, activists, support workers, service providers and health workers. A number of women spoke to Amnesty International on condition that their anonymity was guaranteed. Some have asked that certain details not be made public. In order to respect their wishes, details of names and locations on file with Amnesty International have been withheld.

Amnesty International also interviewed officials across the USA, including tribal, state and federal law enforcement officials and prosecutors, as well as tribal judges.

Sexual violence against Indigenous women in the USA is widespread -- and especially brutal. According to US government statistics, Native American and Alaska Native women are more than 2.5 times more likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other women in the USA. Some Indigenous women interviewed by Amnesty International said they didn't know anyone in their community who had not experienced sexual violence. Though rape is always an act of violence, there is evidence that Indigenous women are more like than other women to suffer additional violence at the hands of their attackers. According to the US Department of Justice, in at least 86 per cent of the reported cases of rape or sexual assault against American Indian and Alaska Native women, survivors report that the perpetrators are non-Native men.
Zaynab holds a B.A. in Intl. Relations (Theory) & French from the College of William & Mary (U.S) & an M.A. in Intl. Studies & Diplomacy from the University of London, SOAS (U.K.)

Next Project:

I am looking forward to taking my NGO experience and beginning a new chapter in my career with the Open Society Institute back in New York. I will be an Intl. Women's Program Officer carrying a grant making portfolio of Asia & Latin America.

Advice:

Setting long-term goals is always good planning but I have found a few golden rules along the way:

1. Go beyond the call of duty to help out a colleague and take on tasks outside your job. You will not only show your teamwork and initiative but you might even acquire some new skills.

2. Accept credit when a colleague compliments you for doing a good job. It's a result of your hard work so be gracious.

3. Say thank you. It's important to let your colleagues know that you appreciate their support. It's not only kind but also respectful to thank colleagues by email or even better yet, in person.

Contact Information:
Zaynab Nawaz
zaynabnawaz@gmail.com

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