2008 - 2009 Humphrey Fellows

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2008 - 2009 Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows

Amy A. Avellano, Philippines

Ms. Avellano is an alternative lawyer who represents children in the legal system in the Philippines. She works with a multi-disciplinary team in case management and after-care programs for these children. She serves as lecturer on laws pertaining to women and children, gender sensitivity, and access to justice. She co-founded the WomenLEAD Foundation, a women’s NGO that provides feminist legal services to victims of gender-based violence. She holds bachelors degrees in law and mass communications as well as a diploma in Children, Youth, and Development. She has worked in the field of women’s and children’s rights protection for more than a decade. During her fellowship year, Ms. Avellano will develop a manual on conducting forensic video interviews of trafficked victims to preserve their testimony and to facilitate better prosecution of trafficking cases.

Maria del Rocio Bermeo Sevilla, Ecuador

Dr. Bermeo Sevilla is one of the founders of CORPORACION DECIDE, an NGO working on human rights and democracy issues. She also is one of the founders of WAM International Chapter Ecuador, which works to advance women in microfinance with a human rights and gender focus. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a doctorate in Juridical Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and a DESS in Arbitration, Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Paris Pantheon Assas France. She received her training as a family mediator at the European Institute of Family Mediation. Dr. Bermeo Sevilla currently coordinates, organizes, and trains teams for mediation and legal education on issues of human rights, civil rights, citizenship, gender, and nondiscrimination policies in education. She hopes to develop educational material using pyramidal methods, techniques, and learning processes which will engage users to become active participants in their communities. During her fellowship year, Dr. Bermeo Sevilla will focus on issues of constitutional and comparative law and participative processes in the understanding and implementation of laws.

Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry, Pakistan

Mr. Chaudhry is a Senior Superintendent of Police from the Capital City District of Lahore, Pakistan, and serves as Chief of Discipline and Inspection in Lahore. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He has deep interests in the intersections between law and human rights and believes that these are important areas of study for law enforcement officers. In addition to normal police activities, his duties include handling issues such as human rights violations and a recently-introduced bill for the protection of women. During his fellowship year, Mr. Chaudhry will focus on human rights and law and the practical aspects of law implementation.

Juan Carlos Arjona Estévez , Mexico

Mr. Arjona Estévez worked at the Human Rights Program of Iberoamerican University from September 2002 to September 2007, serving as its coordinator from July 2005 to September 2007. Since September 2007, he has been a consultant for different NGOs working on topics related to sexual and reproductive rights, freedom of expression, and genocides, among others. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law and has specialized diplomas in human rights from various institutions. During his fellowship year, Mr. Arjona Estévez will focus on international human rights law and international organizations, as well as on NGOs’ strategies to implement human rights law at the national level. In addition he hopes to build on his leadership and management skills while participating in the Fellowship.

James Chiku Kaphale, Malawi

Mr. Kaphale has been the Legal and Consumer Affairs Counsel at the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority since 2004. He advises the institution on legal and regulatory issues, educates civic consumers on communications issues, provides legal counsel to the media and postal departments, and monitors and enforces compliance with laws and regulations by communications operators. He holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Malawi. He also has certificates in telecommunications regulation from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) in Washington, D.C. During his fellowship year, through a combination of course work and an internship, Mr. Kaphale will focus on gaining an in-depth understanding of media law and how the communications sector is regulated in the United States.

Pedzisai Ruhanya, Zimbabwe

Mr. Ruhanya has been the Programs Manager for the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition since 2004. He coordinates the organization’s activities, including the documentation of human rights abuses and research in comparative human rights violations, promotion, and protection in Southern Africa. He holds degrees in communications and sociology, and received an M.A. degree in Human Rights from the University of Essex. He has worked in the media in various capacities advocating for freedom of expression. During his fellowship year, Mr. Ruhanya will focus on international human rights law and the law of armed conflict.

Firuz Maksudovich Sattorov, Tajikistan

Mr. Sattorov was the head of the Anti-Trafficking Department and the National Legal Advisor for the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in Tajikistan from 2003-2007. He holds a diploma in law from Tajik State National University and is a faculty member in the Department of Criminal Law. Mr. Sattorov has worked on a variety of projects related to combating trafficking of persons in his country. He teaches young lawyers about the laws related to this topic. He also works in close cooperation with the Inter-Ministerial Commission on Combating Trafficking of Persons of the Government of Tajikistan. He is the Director of the Center for Socio-Economic Development and Human Rights Protection. During his fellowship year, Mr. Sattorov will focus on the development of effective practices for prevention, protection, and prosecution of human trafficking. He will also work on the development of knowledge, training, and a regional network for combating trafficking of persons.

Artur Shakirov, Russia

Mr. Shakirov has been a public servant in the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Tatarstan since 2005. He holds a diploma in law from Kazan State University and holds a certificate in human rights from the St. Petersburg branch of the State University—High School of Economics. Mr. Shakirov would like to seek partnerships with non-governmental organizations and governmental and law enforcement agencies working in combating human trafficking. He has worked with numerous regional NGOs providing support for victims of trafficking as well as training and establishing a regional network to combat tracking of persons from the Republic of Tatarstan. During his fellowship year, Mr. Shakirov will research the theme of effective law enforcement and prosecution of perpetrators of human trafficking, as well as support services for trafficked victims in the United States.

Elizabeth da Cunha Sussekind, Brazil

Ms. Sussekind is a professor of criminology and human rights at the Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. She has a degree in criminology and a master’s degree in Law and Development Sciences from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro. She is a human rights activist, working with problems of violence and prison issues, and has served as Secretary of Justice of Brazil. Ms. Sussekind would like to observe both governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations in their methods and procedures used in preventing and combating human trafficking, especially organ trafficking. Additionally, she would like to increase her knowledge base regarding international organizations and their efforts in controlling human trafficking, international organized crime, money laundering, and terrorism. During her fellowship year, Ms. Sussekind will focus on public agencies and NGOs and their treatment of organized crime: prevention, investigative methods, new software/technology, use of the law, and dealing with public opinion.