Maithili Pai – Fellow

Maithili (she/her) is a Harvard-PSVF Fellow in ISHR's New York office, assisting with legal work, strategic litigation, Treaty body advocacy and furthering NGO and civil society access to UN mechanisms. She has previously served as a judicial clerk at the Supreme Court of India, assisted the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, worked with Privacy International and interned with NGOs in India and Cairo working on women’s rights, refugee rights and LGBT rights. She holds a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Laws from the National University of Juridical Sciences.

Mainga Simoonga - Fellow 

Mainga (he/him) is a DLA Piper Fellow, assisting with legal work, monitoring and advocacy at the UN and African Commission. He also contributes to ISHR's work on human rights defenders and business and human rights. Previously, Mainga did diverse legal work including research on Zambian electoral disputes with Michigan State University, general research with the Southern African Institute for Policy and Research. He also worked as a Global Legal Intern at Boehringer Ingelheim in Germany and Austria, Legal Intern at Musa Dudhia & Co. and helped establish a national law students journal. He holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Zambia.

Sarah Sobczak - Fundraising and Grants Officer

Sarah (she/her) joined ISHR in 2021 through the Swiss employment programme Syni to support the fundraising and finance teams. With 10 years’ experience in fundraising for international non-governmental organisations, Sarah has raised funds for diverse projects including: HIV and AIDS programmes, children’s centres in Kosovo, international emergencies, and women’s empowerment projects in South Africa. She holds a master’s degree in Poverty Reduction and Development Management from the University of Birmingham.

Javier Urizar – Fellow

Javier (he/him) is a beneficiary of the DLA Piper Global Scholarships Programme who is currently on the final year of his Bachelors' degree in Law at Rafael Landivar University in Guatemala. He has served as a human rights researcher, as an analyst for the Judicial Observatory of the Criminal Justice System in Guatemala, and as a paralegal at the International Justice Mission. Javier will be assisting ISHR's Director of Development and Treaty body advocacy by contributing to the work at the UN Human Rights Council and Treaty Bodies.

Lane Eisenmann - Programme Intern (New York)

Lane (she/her) holds a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from Boston College (U.S.), and is currently working towards her law degree at New York University (U.S.). Lane has always been passionate about social justice and decided to go to law school to pursue a career in international human rights law. Before starting her law degree, Lane worked for an organisation that aims to end chronic homelessness in Washington, D.C. Within the field of human rights, Lane is particularly interested in women's rights and environmental justice.

Cheyma Barouk - Communications Intern

Cheyma (she/her) holds a Bachelor's degree in Information and Communication and a Master degree in Innovation, from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. She's currently enrolled in the Faculty of Law of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, in order to be specialised in international law systems. She has prior experience in digital marketing and wants to develop her skills in the humanitarian environment, to bring equity and help to all. Cheyma is from Switzerland. She is fluent in French and English and has good knowledge of Spanish and Italian.

Jing-Jie Chen - Programme Intern

Jing-Jie Chen (he/him) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Diplomacy from National Chengchi University, Taiwan, and is currently completing a dual Master’s degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po Paris and War Studies at King's College London. He is passionate about human rights, in particular migrant and LGBT rights, peace and justice. Jing-Jie has previously worked for different human rights and humanitarian NGOs in Taipei and Paris, and also olunteers as an advocacy officer at Pour le Brésil, Research Lead at KCL Policy Research Centre, and Researcher at Sciences Po Human Development Research Initiative to advocate for human rights through student-led movement. At ISHR, he will work closely with both Asia and Migrants and the LGBTI Rights Programmes.

Morgane Schmutz - Programme Intern (Geneva)

Morgane (she/her) holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Law from the Catholic University of Lyon (France) and a Master's degree in International and Comparative Law from the University of Lausanne (Switzerland). Before joining ISHR, she worked for the Victims Participation and Reparations Section at the International Criminal Court, informing victims of their rights and enabling them to submit applications to the Court, as well as supporting them in the reparations process. Prior to this, she volunteered in different associations for women's and children's rights in Latin America. Her focus at ISHR will be on the Africa and Latin America programmes as well as on training and advocacy.

Sofía García Baudino- Communications Intern

Sofía (she/her) holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Spain and a Master in International Relations and African Studies from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Before joining ISHR, she has worked for environmental rights and with human rights and defenders, especially women, children and Indigenous peoples in Latin America. Her interest in the field of human rights is inspired by her grandmother, a defender and activist in Patagonia, Argentina. Prior to joining ISHR, Sofia has worked with several NGOs such as AIETI or Aranjuez Sostenible in Spain. She is also a volunteer in the Red Cross Spain in the Refugees Department.