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District Of Columbia Council Bill PR25-0737

District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill PR25-0737 Compare Versions

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1- ENROLLED ORIGINAL
1+MURIEL BOWSER
2+MAYOR
3+Ap
4+ril 29, 2024
5+The Hon
6+orable Phil Mendelson
7+C
8+hairman
9+Council of t
10+he District of C olumbia
11+John A. Wilson Building
12+1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, S
13+uite 504
14+Washington,
15+ DC 20004
16+Dear Chairman Mendelson:
17+I
18+n accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1 979 (D.C. Law 2-
19+1
20+42; D.C. Of ficial Code § 1-523.01), and p ursuant t o section 401 of the Human Rights Act of 1977,
21+effective December 7, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-
22+216; D .C. Official Code § 2- 1404.01), I am pleased to
23+n
24+ominate the fo llowing i ndividual:
25+Dr. Maria Bu
26+rnett
27+Monroe Street, NW
28+Washington, DC 20010
29+(Ward 1)
30+fo
31+r reappointment as a member of the Commission on Human Rights, fo r a term to end December 31,
32+2026.
33+Enclosed, you will fi
34+nd biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
35+nominee, t
36+ogether wi th a proposed resolution to assist the C ouncil du ring the confirmation process.
37+I would ap
38+preciate the C ouncil's earliest consid eration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
39+d
40+o not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, D irector, Mayor's Office of Talent and
41+Appointments, should the Coun
42+cil require addit ional information. l
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73+32
74+~ son
75+at the request
76+of the Mayor
77+A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
78+IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
79+To confinn the reappointment
80+of Dr. Maria Burnett to the Commission on Human Rights.
81+RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that this
82+resolution may be cited as the "Commission on Human Rights Maria Burnett Confirmation
83+Resolution
84+of2024".
85+Sec.
86+2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
87+Dr. Maria Burnett
88+Rittenhouse Street, NW
89+Washington,
90+DC 20015
91+(Ward 4)
92+as a member
93+of the Commission on Human Rights, established by section 401 of the Human
94+Rights Act
95+of 1977 (D.C. Law 15-216; D.C. Official Code § 2-1404.03), for a term to end
96+December 31, 2026.
97+Sec.
98+3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
99+upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Office
100+of the Mayor.
101+Sec.
102+4. This resolution shall take effect immediatel y. MARIAELIZABETHBURNETT
103+URETGS TET
104+QUALIFICATIONSSUMMARY
105+‘+Abbumanrightslawyer,advisorandactivistforsocialjusticewith20yearsofrigorouspolicy,researchand
106+‘writingexperience;Provenleaderinmanagingprograms,advocacyandcommunicationseffortsaspartof
107+andalongsidecivilsocietycoalitionsandfoundationsonissuesofhumanrights,ruleoflawandsocial
108+justice.
109++Passionatelycommittedtoacareerleadingandsupportingeffortstoaddressinjustice,inequalityand
110+protectingcivicspace;excellentwrittenandoralcommunication,interpersonal,andorganizationalskills;
111+extensiveexperienceofmanagingandmentoringpartnersandstaffacrosstimezones.
112++Experiencedmediacommentatoronhumanrightsandruleoflaw,ofteninterviewedontelevisionand
113+radio,andauthoringnumerousreportsandop-eds.
114+EDUCATION
115+sisDoctor,NewHi 5
116+StudentDirector,TheAllardK.LowensteinInternationalHumanRightsLawClinic;StudentDirector,TheOrville
117+H.Schell,Jr.CenterforInternationalHumanRights;ClinicMember,ImmigrationLawClinic;ArticlesEditor,Yale
118+JournalofHumanRightsandDevelopmentLaw;AwardedtheKhoslaMemorialFundforHumanDignityPrize
119+‘Awardedtothestudentwho“bestdemonstratesanactiveengagementinadvancingthevaluesofhumandignityin
120+theinternationalarena.”
121+E(TECTURAI 1Archit
122+icbanPlanning.London,UnitedKingdom,August2000
123+NNUNIV ne1998,Pris
124+‘AwardedtheHenryLabouisse‘22PrizeFellowshipfor“academicachievement,moralandintellectualleadership
125+andthefirmdesiretopursueacareerfocusedonthesystematicandpermanentimprovementintheconditionsof
126+distressedanddisadvantagedgroups.”Significantfinancialawardtosupportlow-incomearchitecturalinSouth
127+[Africaaftergraduation;AwardedtheJosephShanelyMemorialPrizeforoutstandingworkintheSchoolof
128+Architecture.
129+UniversityofCapeTown,CapeTown,SouthAfrica-1997tostudypolitics,low-incomehousingandthreatsto
130+goodgovernance
131+HarbinInstituteofTechnology,Harbin,China-1992tostudyintensiveChinesegrammar,historyandpolitics
132+WORKEXPERIENCE
133+EundforGlobalHumanRights,Consultant,WashingtonD.C. January2020~present
134+Facilitateandstrategizegrantmaking,reportwriting,duediligence,technicalassistanceandmovementbuildingto
135+humanrightsandruleoflaworganizations;ConductoutreachtosupporttheFundinhiringUganda-basedstaff,
136+providestrategicguidanceonpoliticaldevelopmentsandchallengesfacingcivicgroups.
137+‘NeillInstituteforGlobalHealthLaw,GeorgetownUniv,LawCenter,Consultant,WashingtonD.C
138+June2020
139+Researchedanddraftedareportdetailinghumanrightsabusesinthecontextof16governments”responsestothe
140+COVID-19pandemic,commissionedandtobepublishedbyUNAIDS,Geneva,Switzerland,
141+
142+CivSOURCEAfrica,Consultant,Kampala,UgandaandWashingtonD.C. May~November2019
143+Researchingandauthoringastudyofprivateandbilateraldonorefforts(ledbyCivSourceandWellspring
144+PhilanthropicFund)toaddressthreatstocivilsocietyinUgandaandEastAfricamorebroadly,tomapexisting
145+organizationalandcollectiveeffortsaimedatpromotinganddefendingcivicspacetodetailhowthe“closingspace”
146+trendmanifestsatnational,districtandlocallevels;carriedoutover50interviewswithabroadrangeofdonors,
147+civicgroupsandsocialmovementleaderstohighlightsbestpracticesforresistancetothreats,newdigitalandnon-
148+digitalprotectionstrategiesandpossibleinnovativeapproachestophilanthropicsupport. HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,Director,East&HornofAfrica/AssociateDirector,AfricaDivisionWashingtonD.C.
149+July2016~December2018
150+ManagedateamofresearchersadvocatingforimprovedhumanrightsandgovernanceinUganda,Kenyaand
151+Somalia,Ethiopia,EritreaandTanzania;supervisedHRW’sannualstrategicplanning,researchandadvocacywhile
152+ContinuingresearchportfolioonUganda(seedetailsbelow).AsaleadsupervisorforworkonEastAfrica,
153+‘managedtheproductiveandverificationofHRW’scontent,actedasaregionalspokesperson,trainedstaffin
154+researchandadvocacymethodologies,ensuredeffectivecollaborationwithlocalandinternationalcivilsociety
155+‘groupsandsocialmovementsacrossEastAfricaandstrategizedeffectivepolicyandadvocacyrecommendations.
156+Conductedandattendedtrainingsinopensourceinvestigations,digitalsecurityandprotectionfromsurveillance,
157+amongotherchallenges.CultivatedfundersandspokeatpublicandprivateeventstoraisefundingforHRWin
158+Germany,Australia,theUSandUK.FullbudgetaryoversightforallEastAfricawork
159+HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,TeamLeader/SeniorResearcher,AfricaDivision~Kampala,Uganda&WashD.C.
160+January2013—July2016
161+ManagedateamofresearchersworkingonhumanrightsabusesinUganda,KenyaandSomalia;maintaineda
162+researchandadvocacyfocusonUganda(seedetailsbelow),whileexpandingmanagementportfolio,includingstaff
163+supervision,researchprioritiesandleadingadvocacyeffortstoachievepositivechange,bringingattentiontoarange
164+ofabusesincludingthreatstofreeexpression,associationandassembly,sexualandgenderbasedviolencein
165+conflict,abusesofinternallydisplacedpeople,andviolencebyarmedgroupssuchastheLord’sResistanceArmy
166+‘andthearmedIslamistgroup,Al-Shabaab.
167+HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,Researcher/SeniorResearcher,AfricaDivision~Kampala,Uganda&WashD.C,
168+December2007-December2012
169+Conductedin-depthresearchandadvocacyonhumanrightsabusesinEastAfrica;authoredreportsandanalysesof
170+violationsoftherighttohealth,HIV/AIDSpolicies,torture,threatstoelectionsandfreeexpression,aswellas,
171+corruption,landandenvironmentalrights,andthreatstothelesbian,gayandtransgendercommunity;monitored
172+‘majorpoliticaldevelopments,craftmulti-yearadvocacystrategiestoimprovehumanrightsprotectionsand
173+developmentprograms,draftednumerouspressreleasesandop-eds,submissionstogovernmentsandinternational
174+bodies;leadadvocacymeetingswithkeystakeholderssuchincludingheadsofstate,cabinet-levelministersand
175+securityleadership;briefedhigh-levelU.N.andbi-lateraldonorsondevelopmentandhumanrightschallengesin
176+EastAfrica;routinelycollaborateandsupportedsocialmovementsoflocalorganizationsthroughoutEastAfricafor
177+innovativeresearchandadvocacy;frequentlyquotedinthemediaonawiderangeofsubjects;managedlocaland
178+internationalstaffandconsultants,trainednewHRWstaffonresearchmethodology,writingandadvocacy
179+strategies.PromotedtoSeniorResearcherinJune2010,
180+HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,Researcher/Legal representative,AfricaDivision~Bujumbura,Burundi
181+May2005-November2007
182+ConductedresearchandadvocacyonhumanrightsabusesinBurundiandRwanda,undertheleadershipofAlison
183+DesForges;monitoredpoliticaldevelopmentsanddraftedreportsandpressreleasesonhumanrightsand
184+‘developmentchallenges;Carriedouttrainingsonhumanrightsinvestigationandadvocacystrategieswithlocalnon-
185+governmentalorganizations;collaboratedwithlocalorganizations(oadvocateforpolicyandlegislativechanges;
186+LegallyestablishedandmanagedHRW’sBurundifieldpresenceincludingcontractingwithlocalstaff,ensuringtax
187+andlaborlawcompliance.Managedlocalstafftranslators,andfixers
188+DEPT.OFJUSTICE,OFFICEOFTHEATTORNEYGENERAL.LegalAssociate~Pohnpei,FederatedStatesof
189+Micronesia,Summer2004
190+DraftedlegislationtocombathumantraffickingtobringislandsintheSouthPacificintocompliancewiththe1951
191+UN.ConventionfortheSuppressionoftheTraffickinginPersons;collaboratedwiththePresidentofMicronesia
192+andcongressmentopreparethebillforcongressionalreview;draftedchangestoforeigninvestmentand
193+immigrationlawstoimproveequality
194+‘SUSTAINABILITY,LegalIntern~London,UK Summer2003
195+‘Co-authoredreportexaminingemergingareasofcorporateliabilityforviolationsofhumanrights,healthand
196+environmentalstandardsforaninternationalconsultancyspecializinginbusinessstrategiesforsustainability
197+foundedbyJohnElkington;researchedandwrotechaptersontheAlienTortClaimsAct,tortlawinIndiaandSouth
198+Africa,andpotentiallitigationforclimatechange.
199+ OPENSOCIETYJUSTICEINITIATIVE,LegalIntern~NewYork,NY/London,UK ‘Summer2003
200+ResearchedandwrotememorandaonEuropeannationallawsandEUlawonimmigrationforinternational
201+conferenceontherightsofmigrants.
202+HUMANRIGHTSWATCH,AfricaDivision,ResearchAssistant~NewYork,NY 2001-02
203+ResearchedhumanrightsabusesandsupportedresearchersfocusedonSwazilandandWestAfrica,monitoredmajor
204+politicaldevelopmentsinthesecountries;helpedindraftingreports,articlesandpressreleases;created,produced
205+‘andmaintainedtheFrenchlanguagewebsite;coordinatedastaffofsevenvolunteers.
206+EREELANCEWRITER/CONSULTANTINWESTAFRICA 2000-02
207+Publishedarticlesinvariousinternationaljournalsandmagazines,includingtheBBC’sFocusonAfrica,Indexon
208+Censorship,TheAmericanScholar,ThePrincetonAlumniWeekly,andBlue.ConductedresearchforTheEconomist
209+inWestAfrica,primarilyduringthe2000presidentialelectionsinGhana.Consultedwithlocalorganizations
210+workingonwomen’srightstohousing,land,andwater,advisingonarchitecturalsolutionsandgovernmentrelations
211+=predominantlyinMali,BurkinaFaso,Benin,andTogo.
212+vi EN’ HE! —Philippi,SouthAfrica1998-2000
213+Collaboratedwithlocalarchitectsandwomenlivinginsquattercampstodesignandbuildacommunityof250low-
214+incomehomesinPhilippi,outsideCapeTown;facilitatedlogisticsonsite;draftedplansforsubmissiontotheCape
215+PlanningAuthority;oversawon-sitesurveyingandbasicconstruction.
216+
217+OTHERRELEVANTINFORMATION
218+BarAdmission:WashingtonD.C.
219+VolunteerwiththeCapitolAreaImmigrants’RightsProject,WashingtonDC.
220+SignificantprobonoworkasanexpertinasylumproceedingsforindividualsfromEastArica,particularlyRwanda
221+‘andUganda,
222+Languageabilities:French(Proficient);Italian(Proficient);Albanian(Intermediate);MandarinChinese(Basic).
223+ <*
224+rm
225+nies
226+elaa
227+ExecutiveOfficeoftheMayor—Mayor’sOfficeofTalentandAppointments
228+JohnA.WilsonBuilding|1350PennsylvaniaAvenue,Suite600|Washington,DC20004
229+Dr.MariaE.Burnett
230+Mr.AdamE.Maierisaprovenleaderandchangeagentwith
231+extensiveexperienceingovernmentoperations.Heisacurrent
232+memberoftheCommissiononHumanRights.
233+For14years,sheworkedwiththeAfricaDivisionofHuman
234+RightsWatch,firstinBurundiandthenlaterinUgandaandwas
235+eventuallyDirectorfortheEastandHonofAfrica.Dr.Burnett
236+hasresearchedandwrittenonabroadrangeofhumanrights
237+issues,includingpolicebrutality,freeexpression,childsoldiers,
238+women’sandchildren’srights,andtheuseoftortureand
239+extrajudicialexecutionsandcriminaljusticereforminCentralandEastAfrica.Shehasbriefed
240+high-levelU.N.andU.S.officials,aswellasgiventestimonybeforetheUSCongressandEU
241+parliament.BeforejoiningHumanRightsWatch,Burnettworkedasanarchitectandjournalist.
2242
3243
4244
245+Dr.BurnettisbeingappointedtotheCommissionofHumanRights,becauseshehasdedicatedher
246+careertohumanrights,andwouldlovetocontributesomeofherknowledgeandexperiencesto
247+serveDistrictresidents.
248+AWard|resident,Dr.BurnettearnedherBachelorofArtsfromPrincetonUniversity,herof
249+MasterofArtsfromtheArchitecturalAssociationinLondon,andherJurisDoctorfromYale
250+LawSchool.
251+ GOVERNMENTOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA
252+ExecutiveOfficeofMayorMurielBowser
253+xOkke
254+WEARE
255+WASHINGTON
256+al
257+OfficeoftheGeneralCounseltotheMayor
258+To: TommyWells,SteveWalker
259+From:BetsyCavendish
260+Dat November9,2023
261+Subject:LegalsufficiencyreviewofResolutionsnominatingMariaBurnettandAdam
5262
6-A RESOLUTION
263+MaierasmembersoftheCommissiononHumanRights
264+ThisistoCertifythatthisofficehasreviewedtheabove-referencedresolutionsand
265+foundthemtobelegallyunobjectionable.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsinthisregard,pleasedonot
266+hesitatetocallErikaSatterlee,DeputyGeneralCounsel,ExecutiveOfficeoftheMayor,at202-
267+724-1303,oFmeat202-724-7681
268+ElizabethA.(Betsy)Cavendish
7269
8-25-659
9-
10-IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
11-
12-October 1, 2024
13-
14-
15-To confirm the reappointment of Ms. Maria Burnett as a member of the Commission on Human
16-Rights.
17-
18-RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
19-resolution may be cited as the “Commission on Human Rights Maria Burnett Confirmation
20-Resolution of 2024”.
21-
22-Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the reappointment of:
23-
24-Ms. Maria Burnett
25-Monroe Street, NW
26-Washington, DC 20010
27-(Ward 4)
28-
29-as a member of the Commission on Human Rights, established by section 401 of the Human
30-Rights Act of 1977, effective December 7, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-216; D.C. Official Code § 2-
31-1404.01), for a term to end December 31, 2026.
32-
33-Sec. 3. The Council shall transmit a copy of this resolution, upon its adoption, to the
34-nominee and to the Office of the Mayor.
35-
36-Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
270+ ‘TheJohnAWilsonBuilding»1550PennsylvaniaAvenue,NW>Suie300+Washingion,DC20004+Office(202)724-7681