December 19, 2024, NEW YORK – The Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute (HRI) is excited to announce the appointment of Waleed Alhariri as its new Managing Director. Waleed brings extensive leadership, management and advocacy experience to the Institute along with a deep commitment to human rights and institutional development.

“We are thrilled to welcome Waleed Alhariri, who brings deep experience in advocacy and institutional development, combined with passion for social change and education,” said Professor Sarah Knuckey, the Faculty Director of the Human Rights Institute and Smith Family Human Rights Clinic. “Waleed has been an invaluable part of the Human Rights Institute’s work for years, and his leadership and vision will strengthen our efforts to protect human rights and educate the next generation of advocates and scholars. Waleed is the ideal person to guide HRI into the future.”

As a Practitioner-in-Residence at HRI since 2016, Waleed has worked closely with the Institute’s staff and clinic students, contributing to key initiatives including the right to mental health and climate justice. He guided HRI collaborations with the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, the Yemeni think tank where he served as a senior executive. There, Waleed contributed to high-impact policy and research projects on transitional justice issues and sustainable development while playing a key role in shaping international diplomatic discussions on Yemen’s future.  

“I am thrilled to join the Human Rights Institute in this new capacity,” Waleed said. “The HRI offers an unparalleled opportunity to combine policy-oriented advocacy with hands-on training to equip the next generation of leaders with the human rights foundation and tools they will need. Contributing to this incredible institution's growth and success is a privilege, and I look forward to building community around our core mission and values.”

Throughout his career, Waleed has demonstrated a passion for building institutions and fostering social change. He was instrumental in developing the Sana’a Center, which has become Yemen's foremost research and policy institution. In addition to his institutional and diplomatic work, Waleed most recently founded Sheba Bees, a social enterprise that supports Yemeni beekeeping communities and has garnered international recognition for both the quality of its honey and its social impact.

In his new role as Managing Director at HRI, Waleed is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, guiding strategic growth, and ensuring human rights programs are successfully implemented. Waleed’s organizational development, fundraising and advocacy experience position him well to lead HRI into its next chapter and expand its impact and influence as a hub for human rights learning, research, and advocacy.

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The Human Rights Institute advances international human rights through education, advocacy, fact-finding, research, scholarship, and critical reflection. We work in partnership with advocates, communities, and organizations pushing for social change to develop and strengthen the human rights legal framework and mechanisms, promote justice and accountability for human rights violations, and build and amplify collective power.

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