Our Directors

Eric N Richardson, Geneva, Switzerland

In his 30-year career as a diplomat, attorney and journalist, Eric Richardson worked at U.S. embassies in and for China, Libya, Tunisia, New Zealand, and Israel and the Palestinian territories. From 2013-16, he served in Geneva as Deputy at the UN Human Rights Council. His Washington assignments focused on North Korea; political transitions in Burma and the Arab Spring; and legal and congressional affairs. As an international attorney, his clients ranged from technology and telecommunications companies to federal judges, and from Central American migrants to UN Agencies. He teaches international law and negotiations for several law schools, has numerous awards and publications, and speaks English, Mandarin Chinese and French.

Hans J. Hogrefe, Washington, DC

Hans Hogrefe has worked on international human rights and humanitarian affairs in the U.S. Congress and civil society for more than 30 years. As Executive Director of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, Hans organized hundreds of Congressional hearings concerning human rights in every corner of the globe. A strong advocate for the under-represented, Hans has a particular interest in refugees and the women, peace and security agenda. Outside the Congress, Hans' advocacy has included work for the U.S. Department of State, Refugees International, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. He has dozens of media appearances and publications to his name and is fluent in English and German.

John Sciamanna, New York

John Sciamanna specializes in children’s policy, economic and social rights, labor, health, and well-being for women and youth. John has more than 30 years’ experience advancing these issues on behalf of non-profit social welfare groups and coalitions, as well as in the United States Congress and state legislatures. Monitoring, advocacy, legislative and regulatory policy, and public affairs are among his specialties. John has drafted hundreds of statements for non-profit clients, including Congressional testimony, legislative agendas, and articles on issues of social welfare. Based in New York, John speaks English and Italian.

Our Experts

Jane Galvao, Geneva

An expert in health and civil society organizations with deep experience in New York and Geneva, Jane heads up our work on human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. Jane has managed grant portfolios in excess of $750 million. A PhD in public health from Brazil, Jane has focused on children in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, civil society participation and other aspects of health and human rights. Jane speaks Portuguese, Spanish, French and English.

T. Kumar, Washington & New York

Kumar was Amnesty International's USA Advocacy Director, based in Washington, for more than 20 years until he joined the INHR team as a Senior Human Rights Adviser. A former political prisoner in his native Sri Lanka, Kumar has analyzed and advocated for strong mechanisms to address human rights and humanitarian situations across the globe. His expertise ranges from Afghanistan to Myanmar and he has advocated in Washington, New York and Geneva for mistreated populations, particularly in Asia. Kumar represents INHR on the United States' Atrocity Prevention Task Force.

Dorina Xhixho, Geneva

Our lead Gender Advisor, Dorina is a former Albanian diplomat with significant experience in the Human Rights Council, World Health Organization and other Geneva-based UN institutions. Dorina has worked at the International Telecommunications Union as a UN staff member, staffed a member of the World Health Assembly, and has worked with the International Labor Organization, among other projects. A dual Swiss-Albanian national, she speaks French, Italian, Albanian and English.

Mohamed Htewish, Tunis & Washington

Our Libya program lead with more than 10 years experience implementing programs in his native Libya, Mohamed is an expert on reconciliation and democratization, with a bulk of his program experience in training and education. Mohamed has overseen and implemented development projects with the Swiss government, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, and leading Libyan thinktanks in Tripoli and Tunis. He has managed more than 25 development projects in Libya since 2011, with a value of over $8 million. Mohamed is now based with our Washington team but travels often to North Africa. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

Luke Wilson, Geneva

Amb. Carmen Castillo, Geneva

A recent graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Luke has worked previously with the International Service for Human Rights and the Permanent Mission of Fiji in Geneva. His work straddles diplomacy and law, with particular expertise in the diplomatic environment in Geneva. Luke recently took leave to work for a year in the Office of the President of the UN Human Rights Council.

Amb. Carmen Castillo, Geneva

An ambassador and economist with over 22 years of experience as a diplomat in Geneva and Paris, Carmen represented El Salvador in the UN agencies in Geneva such as UNCTAD, Human Rights Council, humanitarian agencies (refugees, migrants, and red cross) and environmental agencies. She also focused significant attention on the WTO and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Carmen holds an MBA from Spain and is fluent in Spanish, French, and English.

Kathleen Paauwe, Michigan USA

An NGO advocate for more than 10 years in her native Kalamazoo, Katie brings order out of the "creative chaos" that is INHR. As our lead administrator, she handles our accounting, bookkeeping and compliance. From taxes to payroll to by-laws, she puts her advanced degree in NGO management to work making sure that all the INHR trains run on-time, whether in the U.S., North Africa or Europe. She also has detailed experience in public relations, fundraising and NGO programs supporting children and youth.

Zaf Hassim, Bali and Colombo

Kathleen Paauwe, Michigan USA

A videographer and reconciliation specialist, Zafarullah Hassim works across Asia helping to train and bring together groups in conflict. His experience covers Sri Lanka, Burma, Indonesia and Central African Republic, among the world's most challenging conflicts. A visiting lecturer in the UK in applied theater, Zaf uses cinematography to bring trainings to life with techniques such as newsreels and the use of the camera as a training mirror. Zaf is an experienced member of USAID and IOM service delivery teams, and produced most of the videos on this website.

Dr. Steve Schlozman, Boston

Kathleen Paauwe, Michigan USA

Dr. Steve Schlozman, Boston

A Harvard Medical School professor of psychiatry, Dr. Schlozman consults with UNHR on issues of health and human rights, recruitment of vulnerable populations and youth into terrorism and gangs, and issues of psycho-social support in conflict areas. Steve has also published several horror novels and teaches writing to Harvard undergraduates.