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Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

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Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights[1]
Founded1968
FounderEthel Kennedy
TypeOperating public charity
(IRS exemption status): 501(c)(3)[2]
FocusHuman Rights
Location
  • Washington, D.C.
Area served
Worldwide
MethodAwards, Advocacy, Partnerships, Education
Key people
Kerry Kennedy, President
Lynn Delaney, Executive Director
Robert F. Smith, Chairman of the Board
Santiago Canton, Director, RFK Partners for Human Rights
John Heffernan, Director, RFK Speak Truth To Power
Websitehttp://www.rfkhumanrights.org

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (formerly the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, or RFK Center)[1] is a human rights advocacy organization, a nonprofit charitable organization that works to realize Senator Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a peaceful and just world by advancing human rights. It works to support recipients of the RFK Human Rights Award, supports investigative journalists and authors through the RFK Book and Journalism Awards, and educates the public and empowers students to create change in the classroom. It is based in Washington, D.C.

History

The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial was originally a non-profit organization established in Washington, D.C. in October, 1968 by the Kennedy family and others to memorialize Robert Kennedy's public service following his assassination on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles, California. Fred Dutton, a long-time friend and Kennedy ally, was named executive director and Peter B. Edelman, a member of Kennedy's senatorial staff, became associate director. The chairman of the executive committee was Robert S. McNamara.

The Memorial was announced during a press conference at Hickory Hill (McLean, Virginia) on Tuesday, October 29, 1968. Ted Kennedy led the press conference, stating that the organization would be a "living memorial" that would work in areas of poverty, crime, and education in America. He went on to say the Memorial would be "an action-oriented program that we think will carry on his concerns, his actions, his efforts to work on so many of the problems in this country that have no solutions." He was joined at the press conference by his sisters, Patricia Kennedy Lawford and Jean Kennedy Smith, as well as dozens of Kennedy family friends and aides.[4]

Robert Kennedy's widow Ethel Kennedy did not attend the press conference, but was nearby, in a second-floor bedroom of Hickory Hill on doctor's orders, awaiting the birth of her eleventh child. She issued a statement saying it was the hope of her husband's family and friends that the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial would carry forward the ideals he worked for during his lifetime: "He wanted to encourage the young people and to help the disadvantaged and discriminated against both here and abroad, and he wanted to promote peace in the world. These will be the goals of the memorial."[5]

The memorial and other projects started in Kennedy's memory were later collectively renamed Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. The organization works to advance human rights through litigation, advocacy, and education.[6]

Board & Trustees

Founder

Ethel Kennedy, after Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. In honor of her husband, Ethel, along with friends and family, created the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial - now Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights - to ensure his spirit would live on through improving human rights around the world.[7]

Chairperson

Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights [8]
Robert F. Smith is Chairman of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. [9]

Board of Directors and members

  • Terry Mazany is Co-Vice Chair, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Board of Directors [10]
  • Anthony Williams, Partner, Dentons; Treasurer and Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Board of Directors.[11]
  • Tonio Burgos, CEO, Tonio Burgos and Associates[15]
  • Mark E. Freitasو President and Founder, Mark Edward Partners [20]
  • Claudio Grossman, Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus, Washington College of Law, American University [23]
  • Philip W. Johnston, President and Founder, Johnston Associates[24]
  • Joe Kennedy III, United States Congressman, Massachusetts, 4th District [25]
  • Niclas Kjellström-Matseke, Chairman, Perennis; Former CEO, Swedish Postcode Lottery [26]
  • Maria Lina Marcucci, Managing Director, Ultima Communications; Chair, Robert F. Kennedy Foundation of Europe [27]
  • Elisa Massimino, President and CEO, Human Rights First [28]
  • Karen Mehiel, CEO and Principal Shareholder, Kampack, Inc. [29]
  • Scott Minerd, Managing Partner and Global Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Partners [30]
  • James J. Pinto, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, MVC GP II [31]
  • Michael Posner, Co-Director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights [32]
  • John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman, CEO & Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Capital Investments [33]
  • Marvin S. Rosen, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP [34]
  • R. Todd Ruppert, Founder and CEO, Ruppert International, Inc.[35]
  • Malika Saada Saar, Public Policy and Government Relations, Senior Counsel on Civil and Human Rights, Google[36]
  • Jeffrey A. Sachs, Principal, Sachs Policy Group [37]
  • Henry S. Schleiff, Group President, Investigation Discovery, Military Channel, and Destination America with Discovery Communications [38]
  • Martin Sheen, Actor/Activist [39]
  • Pedro Torres-Mackie, Founder and Managing Director, Quotidian Ventures [40]
  • Donato Tramuto, CEO, Tivity Health [41]
  • Barry Volpert, Co-founder and CEO, Crestview Partners [42]
  • Jim Wiatt, served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the William Morris Agency (WMA) [43]

Human Rights Advocacy

Established by Kerry Kennedy in 1987, RFK Human Rights consists of three core programs: Partners for Human Rights, which works to create lasting change through litigation, advocacy, and training; Speak Truth To Power, a human rights education program; and RFK Compass, a sustainable investing initiative.[1]

Human Rights Award

Main article: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was created by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend in 1984 to honor individuals around the world who show courage and have made a significant contribution to human rights in their country.

In addition to receiving a financial award, laureates can partner with Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights on projects to advance their human rights work, benefiting from the resources and technologies at the foundation's disposal. Some have achieved their goals, some are in exile from their home country. The majority continue to live in their home country and work with the support of the center to establish the human rights they are working for. Since 1984, awards have been given to 43 individuals and organizations from 25 different countries. The 2009 award was presented by President Barack Obama.[44] In 2009, the RFK Human Rights began a partnership with the California International Law Center (CILC) at the University of California, Davis School of Law focusing on the crisis in Darfur.[45]

Laureates

Book Award

The Robert F. Kennedy Book Award was founded in 1980, with the proceeds from Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.'s best-selling biography, Robert Kennedy and His Times. Each year, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights presents an award to the book which "most faithfully and forcefully reflects Robert Kennedy's purposes - his concern for the poor and the powerless, his struggle for honest and even-handed justice, his conviction that a decent society must assure all young people a fair chance, and his faith that a free democracy can act to remedy disparities of power and opportunity." The Robert F. Kennedy Book Award has been recognized as one of the most prestigious honors an author can receive.[47]

Award winners

Journalism Award

Main article: Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award

The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award was established in 1968 by a group of reporters covering Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign and "honors those who report on issues that reflect Robert F. Kennedy's concerns including human rights, social justice and the power of individual action in the United States and around the world." Entries include insights into the causes, conditions and remedies of injustice and critical analysis of relevant public policies, programs, attitudes and private endeavors.

Led by a committee of six independent journalists, the Awards are judged by more than fifty journalists each year. It has become the largest program of its kind and one of few in which the winners are determined solely by their peers. Previous winners include World News anchor Diane Sawyer.[48]

In 2012 May Ying Welsh, Hassan Mahfood, and John Blair from Al Jazeera English won the U.S. Journalism for 2012 Grand Prize for their documentary Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark.[49]

Speak Truth To Power

Speak Truth To Power is the global human rights initiative founded by Kerry Kennedy and Nan Richardson, bringing people face-to-face with courageous human rights heroes. This multifaceted project presents inspiring stories of 51 women and men from over 40 countries who have stood up to oppression at great personal risk in the non-violent pursuit of human rights including demilitarization, children of war, environmental activism, and religious self-determination.[50]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Introducing Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights". Archived from the original on 2015-02-18. Retrieved 2015-02-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Organization Overview". rfkcenter.org. Archived from the original on January 3, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "About Us". rfkcenter.org. Archived from the original on May 8, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Staff Writer (October 30, 1968). "RFK Memorial Created" The Hartford Courant, p. 7.
  5. ^ Nan Robertson (October 30, 1968). "New Fund Honors Robert Kennedy: Family Plans Foundation to Advance His Ideals". The New York Times. p. 1, 21.(subscription required)
  6. ^ "Explore the Life and Legacy of Robert F. Kennedy". Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. Archived from [www.rfkhumanrights.org/legacy the original] on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ Ethel Kennedy
  8. ^ Kerry Kennedy
  9. ^ Robert F. Smith
  10. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/people/terry-mazany
  11. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/people/anthony-williams
  12. ^ Frank Baker
  13. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/people/peter-barbey Peter Barbey
  14. ^ Harry Belafonte
  15. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/people/tonio-burgos Tornio burgos Torino Burqos
  16. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/people/tim-cook Tim cook Tim Cook
  17. ^ "Stephen DeCherney's Official Profile on The Marque".
  18. ^ Stephen DeCherney
  19. ^ Peter Edelman
  20. ^ Mark E. Freitas
  21. ^ Mark D. Gearen
  22. ^ Ken Goldman
  23. ^ Claudio Grossman
  24. ^ Philip W. JohnstonPhilip W. Johnston
  25. ^ Joe Kennedy III
  26. ^ Niclas KjellströmNiclas Kjellström
  27. ^ Maria Lina Marcucci
  28. ^ Elisa Massimino
  29. ^ Karen MehielKaren Mehiel
  30. ^ Scott Minerd
  31. ^ James J. Pinto
  32. ^ Michael Posner
  33. ^ John W. RogersJohn W. Rogers
  34. ^ Marvin S. RosenMarvin S. Rosen
  35. ^ Todd Ruppert
  36. ^ Malika Saada SaarMalika Saada Saar
  37. ^ Jeffrey A. Sachs
  38. ^ Henry S. Schleiff
  39. ^ Martin Sheen
  40. ^ Pedro Torres
  41. ^ Donato Tramuto
  42. ^ Barry Volpert
  43. ^ Jim Wiatt
  44. ^ First Thoughts: No Pain, No Gain?, archived from the original on December 23, 2009, retrieved October 19, 2017
  45. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-08. Retrieved 2009-12-21. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  46. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/people/adilur-rahman-khan
  47. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/awards/book-journalism-awards/book-award-winners
  48. ^ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977935175&grpId=3659174697244816&nav=Groupspace
  49. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/awards-archive/journalism-award
  50. ^ https://rfkhumanrights.org/work/teaching-human-rights
  • The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights Web Site
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