News
The Latest from UNA-NCA
Interview with UNA-NCA's 2023 Community Award Honoree: Georgetown Law Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative, Director Kristin Henning
We had the privilege of conversing with Kristin Henning, a trailblazer in youth advocacy. As a recognized figure in the fight for children's rights, she graciously shared insights into her journey, offering a glimpse into her unwavering commitment to the well-being of children. Finding inspiration and a guiding force is crucial in pursuing justice for children. Professor Henning's story unveils a narrative of passion, dedication, and relentless devotion to youth advocacy. Join us as we explore the transformative moments and impactful initiatives that have shaped her career. Professor Henning's journey into youth advocacy began during her time in law school, where she encountered a mentor who would leave an indelible mark on her career—Jean Koh Peters, a distinguished specialist in child advocacy. Peters' compassion, subject matter expertise, and unwavering dedication became a source of inspiration for Professor Henning. Their connection spurred a desire to contribute meaningfully to children's welfare, although the path ahead remained uncertain. Guided by Peters' influence, Professor Henning entered the legal arena committed to youth advocacy. The realization that there was a need for representation in delinquency cases became a pivotal moment in her journey. Because her law school professors encouraged students to be leaders and address the gaps in representation, Professor Henning began her 26-year career advocating for children's rights.
Faced with the stark reality of the racial disparities in the justice system, she recognized the urgent need to address racial biases within the legal system. The challenge of continuing the work without addressing the broader racial justice issues became too significant to ignore. Professor Henning's commitment led her to engage in direct representation and policy reform, training, and research to tackle the racial justice issues associated with youth advocacy. In her workshops on recognizing biases, Professor Henning acknowledges the resistance in the room and understands that some individuals may be unaware of their biases. She advocates for collaboration and finding common ground, urging a collective effort to identify and address biases within the system. Her aim is to reduce resistance and foster a deeper understanding of children's shared experiences, regardless of race and class.
Professor Henning’s commitment extends beyond direct representation, as evidenced by her collaboration with the Gault Center to develop and host the Juvenile Training Immersion Program (JTIP), now known as YDAP. This program, born out of a critical need for specialized training in representing children, aims to equip youth defenders with essential knowledge and skills, emphasizing that “every child needs a childhood.” She also collaborated with the Gault Center to develop the Racial Justice Toolkit for youth defenders, making another tangible impact in challenging racial inequities within the juvenile legal system. Discussing her leadership role in youth advocacy, Professor Henning drew parallels to experiences in international human rights by emphasizing the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in addressing global challenges faced by children.
She sees racial justice as the most pressing challenge concerning the future of juvenile justice. Addressing the significance of race in legal questions is imperative for dismantling biases, and there is a need for laws and interpretations that account for the realities of race in society, offering a pathway to a more equitable juvenile justice system. Kristin Henning's journey is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship, the importance of proactive leadership, and the necessity of addressing racial justice in youth advocacy. Her unwavering dedication to the well-being of children and commitment to challenging biases have made her a guiding light in pursuing justice for the most vulnerable members of society.
Register Today!
Become a Sponsor!
Interview with UNA-NCA's 2023 Emerging Leader Award Honoree: Amanda Strayer
Interviewed by Beth Akiyama & Blog Written by Ian SloanThroughout this interview, UNA-NCA’s 2023 Emerging Leader Award recipient Amanda Strayer covered various topics on her work before and during her current tenure as a Supervising Staff Attorney for Accountability at Human Rights First, where she advocates for the effective use of targeted sanctions to address human rights abuses around the world. She is also an alumnus of Georgetown University Law Center from which she graduated with a Doctor of Law degree and a Certificate in Refugees and Humanitarian Emergencies.
An Interview with International Organization Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Ms. Allison Lombardo
By Kate Lovas, UNA-NCA Human Rights Committee Co-Chair; and Spencer Kitchen, UNA-NCA Human Rights Committee Member
We at UNA-NCA had the honor to sit down with the 2023 F. Allen “Tex” Harris Human Rights Diplomacy Honoree, Allison Lombardo, Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS), Bureau of International Organizations, U.S. Department of State. DAS Lombardo gave us an inside look at how she built a career advocating for human rights by keeping people at the heart of policy.
An Interview with UNA-NCA's 2023 Perdita Huston Human Rights Award Honoree: Stephanie Ortoleva
By Karen Mulhauser, UNA-NCA Past Board Chair; and Kate Lovas, UNA-NCA Human Rights Committee Co-Chair
We at UNA-NCA had the honor to sit down with the 2023 Perdita Huston Human Rights Award Honoree, Stephanie Ortoleva, International Human Rights Lawyer and Activist.
David Luna, Co-Chair of the Peace and Security Committee, UNANCA
2023 Young Professionals Career Dinners in International Law, Human Rights, and Gender Equality
By Cesar Fernandez, UNA-NCA Program Assistant
On October 28th, 2023, the UNA-NCA Young Professionals (YP) Program hosted their semi-annual Career Dinner Series. This in-person series focused on Careers in the United Nations, International Law, Human Rights, Gender Equality and Advocacy, and Technology for Development. Part of the Young Professionals Career Dinner Series, discussions featured various professional individuals working in these respective fields. The speakers within this event offered inspirational guidance toward students and young professionals, sharing important perspectives and personal stories with respect to their fields.
A Celebration of UN Day: An Interview with UN Assistant Secretary-General Angelique M. Crumbly
By Angela He and Autumn Buckley, Assistants to the President
The United Nations (UN) stands as a beacon of hope and progress in our world, and its mission to maintain peace among nations is more indispensable than ever. In an enlightening interview with Angelique M. Crumbly, the Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the significance of increasing awareness about the UN's mission becomes evident.
Ian Sloan, UNA-NCA Human Rights Committee Member
Between those noteworthy moments, attendees were able to read brochures that allowed them to take a timeline journey into Eleanor’s legacy and receive initial or continued motivation to be involved in that work. Inspiring involvement in this kind of work was also the main objective of honoring three other significant anniversaries this year in the brochure:
1. 78th Anniversary of the United Nations: the international organization tasked with maintaining global protection, harmony, and civility.
Guests also were able to write posted notes on two wall posted sheets focusing on the following: The first centered on sharing one fact that we can learn from the Former First Lady's human rights advocacy as a template for how to provide aid to marginalized groups. The second provided participants a space for expressing which article(s) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) inspire them to further their human right advocacy in their lives.
In addition to welcoming the attendance of current UNA-NCA members and supporters, the Human Rights Committee was also excited to receive guests unfamiliar with the UNA-NCA but were interested in learning more about the efforts of Eleanor, as well as the organization as a whole. This openness to the public demonstrated the utmost inclusivity and cordiality as established priorities throughout this event. To know more about the UNA-NCA membership and other volunteer opportunities, visit here.
How to get involved: The Human Rights Committee meets on the first non-holiday Monday of each month at 6:00pm, and our next meeting will take place on 11/1 at 6:00pm. If you would like to learn more about the committee and attend the next meeting, please reach out to Leila Hanafi at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kate Lovas at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
By A. Edward Elmendorf, Past President, UNA-NCA
UN supporters and UNA-NCA members looked forward with great interest and engagement to President Biden’s September speech in the UN General Assembly (UNGA). So, I have read and reread his speech against the hopes and anticipation that we brought to it, and particularly in light of the recommendations for U.S. priorities in the Assembly for this year formulated by Advisory Council and recently sent by Council Chair Sam Worthington to the United States Representative Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
