Anika Rahman

Anika Rahman
Born Bangladesh
Citizenship United States
Education Princeton, Columbia Law School
Known for writing, law, human rights activism and social justice

Anika Rahman is a Bangladeshi-American lawyer and a leader for human rights and social justice. She is a prominent advocate for the advancement of marginalized and vulnerable communities worldwide. Her expertise is focused on human rights, women, health and economic development.

Biography

Rahman was born in Bangladesh and raised by three "strong willed women" after her father divorced her mother and then quickly abandoned her family.[1] She moved to the United States to study international relations.[2] She became an American citizen in 1997.[3] She obtained a BA from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and her JD from Columbia Law School, before joining the law firm Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.

Work

Rahman is an experienced non-profit leader. She currently advises on strategic planning, fundraising, advocacy, general management and provides leadership coaching. She is a contributing writer to leading digital publications, including HuffPo and Bustle. [4] She frequently writes on contemporary issues such as human rights, women's equality, reproductive rights, and sustainable development.

Previously, Rahman was the Vice President of Development at Rainforest Alliance. From February 2011 to August 2013, she served as President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women [1] During her tenure, the women's rights organization launched a new rebranding campaign and focused on three key national issues. [5]Prior to that, from 2004 to 2010, she was President of Friends for UNFPA, an NGO that supports the work of the United Nations Population Fund.[6] During her tenure, she campaigned for the restoration of the U.S. government's funding for the United Nations Population Fund. In 2009, President Obama resumed the U.S. government's support for the United Nations Population Fund.[7] Rahman was also the founding director of the International Legal Program of the Center for Reproductive Rights, where she worked from 1993 to 2002. She was a plaintiff in a 2002 lawsuit challenging the Global Gag Rule, also known at the Mexico City Policy.[8] She is the co-author, with Nahid Toubia, of Female Genital Mutilation: A Practical Guide to Worldwide Laws and Policies (2000), published by Zed Books.[9]

Anika was awarded the "21 Leaders for the 21st Century" Award by Women's eNews in 2009, as well as the Lawrence A. Wien Prize for Social Responsibility by Columbia Law School in 2002 .[9] In 2018, she was recognized as one of 21 women in the Diaspora[10] who are inspiring leaders, empowering their fellow women, alongside other global change-makers such as Malala Yousafzai. Anika was also honored as a pioneer for women's rights at Columbia Law Women's Association's 38th Annual Myra Bradwell Banquet in 2018[11], an event to advance the positions of women in the legal profession, and society at large.

Anika is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Bibliography

Rahman, A., ed., series entitled “Women of the World: Laws and Policies Affecting Their Reproductive Lives,” covering Anglophone Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Francophone Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, The Center for Reproductive Rights (1997-2002).

Rahman, A. and Pine, R., “An International Human Right to Reproductive Health Care: Towards Definition and Accountability,” 1 Journal of Health and Human Rights, 401 (1995).

Rahman, A., “Towards Government Accountability for Women's Reproductive Rights,” 69 The St. John's Law Review 203 (1995).

Rahman, A., “Women's Rights Versus Religious Rights in India: A Test Case for International Human Rights Law,” 28 Columbia Journal of Transnational Law 472 (1990).

Notes

  1. 1 2 Goudreau, Jenna (30 June 2011). "Ms. Foundation CEO Warns of Looming 'Womancession'". Forbes: 37. Retrieved 8 June 2015. (Subscription required (help)).
  2. Sussman, Anna Louie. "Anika Rahman", Columbia Law School magazine, Winter 2012.
  3. Rahman, Anika. "Fear in the Open City", The New York Times, 19 September 2001.
  4. "Home". Anika Rahman. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  5. http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130407/NONPROFITS/304079967/reviving-a-trailblazer
  6. Khalamayzer, Anya (7 March 2011). "New Leadership Arrives at Ms. Foundation for Women". Crain's New York Business. 27 (10). Retrieved 10 June 2015. (Subscription required (help)).
  7. Malveaux, Suzanne (24 January 2009). "Obama Reverses Abortion-Funding Policy". CNN U.S. Edition. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  8. "304 F. 3d 183 - Center for Reproductive Law and Policy v. Bush". Open Jurist. 13 September 2002. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Anika Rahman", The Huffington Post, accessed 7 September 2013.
  10. "21 Desi Women who are Game Changers". The Teal Mango. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  11. "Myra Bradwell Dinner". Columbia Law School. Retrieved 2018-03-11.


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