Senior Advisor for Human Rights at The Carter Center will speak at 15th Annual Bahá’í Human Rights Awards

Karin Ryan, senior advisor for Human Rights Defenders Initiative at the Carter Center will be the keynote speaker at the 15th annual Bahá’í Human Rights Awards to be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on December 4. Ryan joined The Carter Center’s Human Rights Program in 1988 and is now Senior Advisor for Human Rights. Ryan has worked with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter on a range of issues. She has assisted them in their efforts on behalf of victims of human rights violations, including through personal interventions with heads of state regarding individual cases, as well as in matters involving generally abusive policies and practices.Ryan has represented the Center in many international negotiations, including on the International Criminal Court, the human rights of women and concerning the adoption of the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. She has worked with the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on behalf of the Carter Center to organize expert consultations, which addressed ways to strengthen the role of the OHCHR within the U.N. system. She has also participated in the Center’s election observation missions to Haiti in 1990, the occupied Palestinian Territories in 1996 and Nigeria in 1999. Having lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, she contributes to various efforts associated with addressing the ongoing conflict and consequent human rights violations in that country. In 2000, Ryan served as a Public Member of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights where she negotiated resolutions creating a mandate for the Special Representative to the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders and on violence against women among others.The 15th annual Bahá’í Human Rights Awards, sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Ventura and Western Los Angeles Counties, serves to honor both the 57th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and also individuals who have made humanitarian contributions within their communities.Three winners of this prestigious award are chosen each year. This year the Bahá’ís of Unit 144 recognize the humanitarian works of the Children’s Enrichment Program at Rancho Sespe, Mr. Morey Navarro of Oxnard and Mrs. Ferial Masry of Newbury Park.