Dinah PoKempner is a seasoned and senior expert in international law, human rights, and organizational management.

PoKempner is known as a thought-leader in helping the human rights movement transition to the challenges of the digital age.

  • PoKempner helped lead Human Rights Watch through an extraordinary period of growth, developing its governance, policies, international affiliates, litigation and defense strategies;

  • PoKempner served with the US Department of State’s Office of the Legal Advisor;

  • PoKempner taught at major universities and served on the boards of a wide variety of human rights groups;

Headshot of Dinah PoKempner

I love problem-solving, whether that means actualizing ideals in the corporate world or making advocates for change effective and accountable. Living our values. is not. Let’s listen to each other deeply and hold ourselves to making life measurably better.

Widely published and experienced in institutional leadership, field research and advocacy, PoKempner has made change in board rooms, refugee camps and Congressional hearings.

Member, New York State Bar 

Permanent Member, Council on Foreign Relations 

Columbia University School of Law, J.D.

High honors for academic achievement; recognition and fellowship for public service; Book Review Editor of the Law Review

Yale University B.A. in History, cum laude

Experience

The UN Special Rapporteur on  Freedom of Opinion and Expression | Senior Legal Advisor

Crimson Goes Blue; legal expert and analyst of state election law | Voting Protection Coordinator

New York, NY

Human Rights Watch | General Counsel, Acting Legal and Policy Director

New York, NY

Harvard Kennedy School, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy | Technology and Human Rights Fellow

New York, NY

Columbia University | Associate Professor Political Science

New York, NY

Open Society Institute | Individual Project Fellowship Recipient

Sydney, Australia

University of Sydney | Faculty of Arts and Social Science, Asia Pacific Master of Human Rights and Democratisation

New York, NY

The New School | Adjunct Professor, Graduate Program for International Affairs

New York, NY

Columbia University School of Law | Visiting Fellow

New York, NY

The Honorable Eugene H. Nickerson, U.S. District Court | Eastern District of New York. Law Clerk

New York

U.S. Department of State | Office of the Legal Adviser. Attorney Adviser

Get in touch.

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On my mind…