MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
Ap
ril 29, 2024
The Hon
orable Phil Mendelson
C
hairman
Council of t
he District of C olumbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, S
uite 504
Washington,
DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
I
n accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1 979 (D.C. Law 2-
1
42; D.C. Of ficial Code § 1-523.01), and p ursuant t o section 401 of the Human Rights Act of 1977,
effective December 7, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-
216; D .C. Official Code § 2- 1404.01), I am pleased to
n
ominate the fo llowing i ndividual:
Dr. Maria Bu
rnett
Monroe Street, NW
Washington, DC 20010
(Ward 1)
fo
r reappointment as a member of the Commission on Human Rights, fo r a term to end December 31,
2026.
Enclosed, you will fi
nd biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, t
ogether wi th a proposed resolution to assist the C ouncil du ring the confirmation process.
I would ap
preciate the C ouncil's earliest consid eration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
d
o not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, D irector, Mayor's Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Coun
cil require addit ional information. l
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~ son
at the request
of the Mayor
A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To confinn the reappointment
of Dr. Maria Burnett to the Commission on Human Rights.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
resolution may be cited as the "Commission on Human Rights Maria Burnett Confirmation
Resolution
of2024".
Sec.
2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
Dr. Maria Burnett
Rittenhouse Street, NW
Washington,
DC 20015
(Ward 4)
as a member
of the Commission on Human Rights, established by section 401 of the Human
Rights Act
of 1977 (D.C. Law 15-216; D.C. Official Code § 2-1404.03), for a term to end
December 31, 2026.
Sec.
3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office
of the Mayor.
Sec.
4. This resolution shall take effect immediatel y. MARIAELIZABETHBURNETT
URETGS TET
QUALIFICATIONSSUMMARY
‘+Abbumanrightslawyer,advisorandactivistforsocialjusticewith20yearsofrigorouspolicy,researchand
‘writingexperience;Provenleaderinmanagingprograms,advocacyandcommunicationseffortsaspartof
andalongsidecivilsocietycoalitionsandfoundationsonissuesofhumanrights,ruleoflawandsocial
justice.
+Passionatelycommittedtoacareerleadingandsupportingeffortstoaddressinjustice,inequalityand
protectingcivicspace;excellentwrittenandoralcommunication,interpersonal,andorganizationalskills;
extensiveexperienceofmanagingandmentoringpartnersandstaffacrosstimezones.
+Experiencedmediacommentatoronhumanrightsandruleoflaw,ofteninterviewedontelevisionand
radio,andauthoringnumerousreportsandop-eds.
EDUCATION
sisDoctor,NewHi 5
StudentDirector,TheAllardK.LowensteinInternationalHumanRightsLawClinic;StudentDirector,TheOrville
H.Schell,Jr.CenterforInternationalHumanRights;ClinicMember,ImmigrationLawClinic;ArticlesEditor,Yale
JournalofHumanRightsandDevelopmentLaw;AwardedtheKhoslaMemorialFundforHumanDignityPrize
‘Awardedtothestudentwho“bestdemonstratesanactiveengagementinadvancingthevaluesofhumandignityin
theinternationalarena.”
E(TECTURAI 1Archit
icbanPlanning.London,UnitedKingdom,August2000
NNUNIV ne1998,Pris
‘AwardedtheHenryLabouisse‘22PrizeFellowshipfor“academicachievement,moralandintellectualleadership
andthefirmdesiretopursueacareerfocusedonthesystematicandpermanentimprovementintheconditionsof
distressedanddisadvantagedgroups.”Significantfinancialawardtosupportlow-incomearchitecturalinSouth
[Africaaftergraduation;AwardedtheJosephShanelyMemorialPrizeforoutstandingworkintheSchoolof
Architecture.
UniversityofCapeTown,CapeTown,SouthAfrica-1997tostudypolitics,low-incomehousingandthreatsto
goodgovernance
HarbinInstituteofTechnology,Harbin,China-1992tostudyintensiveChinesegrammar,historyandpolitics
WORKEXPERIENCE
EundforGlobalHumanRights,Consultant,WashingtonD.C. January2020~present
Facilitateandstrategizegrantmaking,reportwriting,duediligence,technicalassistanceandmovementbuildingto
humanrightsandruleoflaworganizations;ConductoutreachtosupporttheFundinhiringUganda-basedstaff,
providestrategicguidanceonpoliticaldevelopmentsandchallengesfacingcivicgroups.
‘NeillInstituteforGlobalHealthLaw,GeorgetownUniv,LawCenter,Consultant,WashingtonD.C
June2020
Researchedanddraftedareportdetailinghumanrightsabusesinthecontextof16governments”responsestothe
COVID-19pandemic,commissionedandtobepublishedbyUNAIDS,Geneva,Switzerland,
CivSOURCEAfrica,Consultant,Kampala,UgandaandWashingtonD.C. May~November2019
Researchingandauthoringastudyofprivateandbilateraldonorefforts(ledbyCivSourceandWellspring
PhilanthropicFund)toaddressthreatstocivilsocietyinUgandaandEastAfricamorebroadly,tomapexisting
organizationalandcollectiveeffortsaimedatpromotinganddefendingcivicspacetodetailhowthe“closingspace”
trendmanifestsatnational,districtandlocallevels;carriedoutover50interviewswithabroadrangeofdonors,
civicgroupsandsocialmovementleaderstohighlightsbestpracticesforresistancetothreats,newdigitalandnon-
digitalprotectionstrategiesandpossibleinnovativeapproachestophilanthropicsupport. HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,Director,East&HornofAfrica/AssociateDirector,AfricaDivisionWashingtonD.C.
July2016~December2018
ManagedateamofresearchersadvocatingforimprovedhumanrightsandgovernanceinUganda,Kenyaand
Somalia,Ethiopia,EritreaandTanzania;supervisedHRW’sannualstrategicplanning,researchandadvocacywhile
ContinuingresearchportfolioonUganda(seedetailsbelow).AsaleadsupervisorforworkonEastAfrica,
‘managedtheproductiveandverificationofHRW’scontent,actedasaregionalspokesperson,trainedstaffin
researchandadvocacymethodologies,ensuredeffectivecollaborationwithlocalandinternationalcivilsociety
‘groupsandsocialmovementsacrossEastAfricaandstrategizedeffectivepolicyandadvocacyrecommendations.
Conductedandattendedtrainingsinopensourceinvestigations,digitalsecurityandprotectionfromsurveillance,
amongotherchallenges.CultivatedfundersandspokeatpublicandprivateeventstoraisefundingforHRWin
Germany,Australia,theUSandUK.FullbudgetaryoversightforallEastAfricawork
HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,TeamLeader/SeniorResearcher,AfricaDivision~Kampala,Uganda&WashD.C.
January2013—July2016
ManagedateamofresearchersworkingonhumanrightsabusesinUganda,KenyaandSomalia;maintaineda
researchandadvocacyfocusonUganda(seedetailsbelow),whileexpandingmanagementportfolio,includingstaff
supervision,researchprioritiesandleadingadvocacyeffortstoachievepositivechange,bringingattentiontoarange
ofabusesincludingthreatstofreeexpression,associationandassembly,sexualandgenderbasedviolencein
conflict,abusesofinternallydisplacedpeople,andviolencebyarmedgroupssuchastheLord’sResistanceArmy
‘andthearmedIslamistgroup,Al-Shabaab.
HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,Researcher/SeniorResearcher,AfricaDivision~Kampala,Uganda&WashD.C,
December2007-December2012
Conductedin-depthresearchandadvocacyonhumanrightsabusesinEastAfrica;authoredreportsandanalysesof
violationsoftherighttohealth,HIV/AIDSpolicies,torture,threatstoelectionsandfreeexpression,aswellas,
corruption,landandenvironmentalrights,andthreatstothelesbian,gayandtransgendercommunity;monitored
‘majorpoliticaldevelopments,craftmulti-yearadvocacystrategiestoimprovehumanrightsprotectionsand
developmentprograms,draftednumerouspressreleasesandop-eds,submissionstogovernmentsandinternational
bodies;leadadvocacymeetingswithkeystakeholderssuchincludingheadsofstate,cabinet-levelministersand
securityleadership;briefedhigh-levelU.N.andbi-lateraldonorsondevelopmentandhumanrightschallengesin
EastAfrica;routinelycollaborateandsupportedsocialmovementsoflocalorganizationsthroughoutEastAfricafor
innovativeresearchandadvocacy;frequentlyquotedinthemediaonawiderangeofsubjects;managedlocaland
internationalstaffandconsultants,trainednewHRWstaffonresearchmethodology,writingandadvocacy
strategies.PromotedtoSeniorResearcherinJune2010,
HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,Researcher/Legal representative,AfricaDivision~Bujumbura,Burundi
May2005-November2007
ConductedresearchandadvocacyonhumanrightsabusesinBurundiandRwanda,undertheleadershipofAlison
DesForges;monitoredpoliticaldevelopmentsanddraftedreportsandpressreleasesonhumanrightsand
‘developmentchallenges;Carriedouttrainingsonhumanrightsinvestigationandadvocacystrategieswithlocalnon-
governmentalorganizations;collaboratedwithlocalorganizations(oadvocateforpolicyandlegislativechanges;
LegallyestablishedandmanagedHRW’sBurundifieldpresenceincludingcontractingwithlocalstaff,ensuringtax
andlaborlawcompliance.Managedlocalstafftranslators,andfixers
DEPT.OFJUSTICE,OFFICEOFTHEATTORNEYGENERAL.LegalAssociate~Pohnpei,FederatedStatesof
Micronesia,Summer2004
DraftedlegislationtocombathumantraffickingtobringislandsintheSouthPacificintocompliancewiththe1951
UN.ConventionfortheSuppressionoftheTraffickinginPersons;collaboratedwiththePresidentofMicronesia
andcongressmentopreparethebillforcongressionalreview;draftedchangestoforeigninvestmentand
immigrationlawstoimproveequality
‘SUSTAINABILITY,LegalIntern~London,UK Summer2003
‘Co-authoredreportexaminingemergingareasofcorporateliabilityforviolationsofhumanrights,healthand
environmentalstandardsforaninternationalconsultancyspecializinginbusinessstrategiesforsustainability
foundedbyJohnElkington;researchedandwrotechaptersontheAlienTortClaimsAct,tortlawinIndiaandSouth
Africa,andpotentiallitigationforclimatechange.
OPENSOCIETYJUSTICEINITIATIVE,LegalIntern~NewYork,NY/London,UK ‘Summer2003
ResearchedandwrotememorandaonEuropeannationallawsandEUlawonimmigrationforinternational
conferenceontherightsofmigrants.
HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,AfricaDivision,ResearchAssistant~NewYork,NY 2001-02
ResearchedhumanrightsabusesandsupportedresearchersfocusedonSwazilandandWestAfrica,monitoredmajor
politicaldevelopmentsinthesecountries;helpedindraftingreports,articlesandpressreleases;created,produced
‘andmaintainedtheFrenchlanguagewebsite;coordinatedastaffofsevenvolunteers.
EREELANCEWRITER/CONSULTANTINWESTAFRICA 2000-02
Publishedarticlesinvariousinternationaljournalsandmagazines,includingtheBBC’sFocusonAfrica,Indexon
Censorship,TheAmericanScholar,ThePrincetonAlumniWeekly,andBlue.ConductedresearchforTheEconomist
inWestAfrica,primarilyduringthe2000presidentialelectionsinGhana.Consultedwithlocalorganizations
workingonwomen’srightstohousing,land,andwater,advisingonarchitecturalsolutionsandgovernmentrelations
=predominantlyinMali,BurkinaFaso,Benin,andTogo.
vi EN’ HE! —Philippi,SouthAfrica1998-2000
Collaboratedwithlocalarchitectsandwomenlivinginsquattercampstodesignandbuildacommunityof250low-
incomehomesinPhilippi,outsideCapeTown;facilitatedlogisticsonsite;draftedplansforsubmissiontotheCape
PlanningAuthority;oversawon-sitesurveyingandbasicconstruction.
OTHERRELEVANTINFORMATION
BarAdmission:WashingtonD.C.
VolunteerwiththeCapitolAreaImmigrants’RightsProject,WashingtonDC.
SignificantprobonoworkasanexpertinasylumproceedingsforindividualsfromEastArica,particularlyRwanda
‘andUganda,
Languageabilities:French(Proficient);Italian(Proficient);Albanian(Intermediate);MandarinChinese(Basic).
<*
rm
nies
elaa
ExecutiveOfficeoftheMayor—Mayor’sOfficeofTalentandAppointments
JohnA.WilsonBuilding|1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,Suite600|Washington,DC20004
Dr.MariaE.Burnett
Mr.AdamE.Maierisaprovenleaderandchangeagentwith
extensiveexperienceingovernmentoperations.Heisacurrent
memberoftheCommissiononHumanRights.
For14years,sheworkedwiththeAfricaDivisionofHuman
RightsWatch,firstinBurundiandthenlaterinUgandaandwas
eventuallyDirectorfortheEastandHonofAfrica.Dr.Burnett
hasresearchedandwrittenonabroadrangeofhumanrights
issues,includingpolicebrutality,freeexpression,childsoldiers,
women’sandchildren’srights,andtheuseoftortureand
extrajudicialexecutionsandcriminaljusticereforminCentralandEastAfrica.Shehasbriefed
high-levelU.N.andU.S.officials,aswellasgiventestimonybeforetheUSCongressandEU
parliament.BeforejoiningHumanRightsWatch,Burnettworkedasanarchitectandjournalist.
Dr.BurnettisbeingappointedtotheCommissionofHumanRights,becauseshehasdedicatedher
careertohumanrights,andwouldlovetocontributesomeofherknowledgeandexperiencesto
serveDistrictresidents.
AWard|resident,Dr.BurnettearnedherBachelorofArtsfromPrincetonUniversity,herof
MasterofArtsfromtheArchitecturalAssociationinLondon,andherJurisDoctorfromYale
LawSchool.
GOVERNMENTOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA
ExecutiveOfficeofMayorMurielBowser
xOkke
WEARE
WASHINGTON
al
OfficeoftheGeneralCounseltotheMayor
To: TommyWells,SteveWalker
From:BetsyCavendish
Dat November9,2023
Subject:LegalsufficiencyreviewofResolutionsnominatingMariaBurnettandAdam
MaierasmembersoftheCommissiononHumanRights
ThisistoCertifythatthisofficehasreviewedtheabove-referencedresolutionsand
foundthemtobelegallyunobjectionable.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsinthisregard,pleasedonot
hesitatetocallErikaSatterlee,DeputyGeneralCounsel,ExecutiveOfficeoftheMayor,at202-
724-1303,oFmeat202-724-7681
ElizabethA.(Betsy)Cavendish
‘TheJohnAWilsonBuilding»1550PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW>Suie300+Washingion,DC20004+Office(202)724-7681