Los Angeles

"An amazing and important film with the potential to change the way we think about the problem of youth homelessness." - Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here

Human Rights Watch invites you to the screening of The Homestretch. This inspirational documentary explores the severely overlooked crisis of youth homelessness in the United States, by giving a voice to three teens fighting to build a more hopeful future. The film successfully exposes the striking flaws in domestic policies as they relate to juvenile justice, immigration, foster care and LGBTQIA rights.

The movie will be followed by a Q&A with Director Anne de Mare, HRW's LGBT Director Graeme Reid and LA County Office of Education's Melissa Schoonmaker. All guests are invited to attend a drink and taco reception.

The 2014 Voices for Justice dinner was a wonderful celebration where we honored Shin Dong-Hyuk (North Korea) and Dr. M.R. Rajagopal (India) for their courageous and impactful work.  We also happily celebrated Sid Sheinberg's 20 year tenure on the International Board of Human Rights Watch. The personal and heartfelt tone for the night was set perfectly by our special guest, NBA basketball player and civil rights advocate, Jason Collins.  Thank you to everyone who supported this event which provides vital resources to civilians in conflict and to the work of Human Rights Watch. 

The Human Rights Watch Los Angeles Book Club will read and discuss the book Playing the Whore: The Work of Sex Work by Melissa Gira Grant. This book argues for an overhaul in the dominant thinking about the work and rights of another group of women who are commonly considered to be in need of rescue: sex workers.  The book is available in print and e- formats (and it is a brisk read, at 136 pages). For more information or to RSVP please contact Patricia Billings at her Women's Rights Committee Book Club email readwomensrights@gmail.com.

The Human Rights Watch Los Angeles Book Club will read and discuss the book Do Muslim Women Need Saving? by Lila Abu-Lughod. The book looks critically at popular literature and film on the generalized "Muslim Woman" and the common belief in the West that Muslim women need to be rescued. The book is available in print and e- formats (no audio book yet) and at public libraries. (We will contact the publisher to ask if they can offer a discount to members who want to purchase the book, which is only available in hard cover now; more on this as soon as we know.) For more information or to RSVP please contact Patricia Billings at her Women's Rights Committee Book Club email readwomensrights@gmail.com.

The Human Rights Watch Los Angeles Book Club will discuss Los 43, the disappeared, presumed killed, students in Mexico, and the broader problem of mass violence in Mexico, perpetrated by organized crime and government forces. We will consider how women are impacted by the violence, and how they are active in the struggle against it. There will be no book to read, just media articles and HRW reports; we will send links to these in an email shortly. We will also email a cheat sheet the day before the session and have printouts of the sheet at the session. For more information and to RSVP please contact Patricia Billings at readwomensrights@gmail.com

On September 16, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB260 into law, which will enable youth who were transferred to and sentenced in adult court to have their sentence reviewed after serving ten years. The passage of this bill represents the strongest transformation in California’s harsh sentencing laws to date, and will impact more than 5,000 people who have been incarcerated since they were teens. Human Rights Watch is grateful to all of the supporters who have been instrumental at every step along the way, by attending meetings with legislators, making calls, and writing letters.

On September 21, 2014 HRW Film Club will host a screening and discussion of "Sweet Dreams" at New Roads School in Santa Monica.

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Twenty years after the genocide, the film captures the uplifting story of a group of Hutu and Tutsi women who form Rwanda's first all-women drumming troupe and open its first ice cream shop.

3pm: Meet & Greet with HRW's Africa Researcher Lewis Mudge.

4pm: Panel discussion moderated by Kenneth Turan, film critic at the Los Angeles Times, with "Sweet Dreams'" Director Lisa Fruchtman and Lewis Mudge.

6pm: Wines and Tacos

Tickets are available online or by contacting the Los Angeles office at 310-477-5540 or perrine.vaillant@hrw.org.

On May 16, 2014, 250 guests gathered at the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School for the screening of "Food Chains,” an award-winning documentary that explores critical human rights issues in American agriculture. Following the screening, Sanjay Rawal, the film’s director and producer, moderated a dynamic discussion with Lucas Benitez of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, David Damian Figueroa of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Grace Meng of HRW, and the film’s producer, Smriti Keshari . HRW is grateful to all of the guests, volunteers, and panelists for supporting the event. HRW would also especially like to thank the Neda Nobari Foundation for undewriting the event. Save the date for Sunday, September 21, 2014, when HRW will screen "Sweet Dreams." Stay tuned for more details!

On Monday, January 13, 2014, the LA Times ran an Op-Ed by Elizabeth Calvin, Senior Advocate in HRW’s Children’s Rights Division. It is about the first juvenile life without parole case to receive a new sentence under SB 9, the bill that so many of our Southern California supporters worked tirelessly to pass into law. Edel Gonzalez is an incredible example of why this law is so important.

On Tuesday, November 12, 2013, Ashton Kutcher joined 750 guests at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills to celebrate two courageous human rights activists--Alina Diaz and Natalia Taubina. The event raised $1.6 million to support the organization's work in over 90 countries around the world. Human Rights Watch is tremendously grateful to all of the sponsors, volunteers and supporters who made the event possible.

On September 29, 2013, 250 guests gathered at the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School for a screening of the powerful documentary about photojournalist and filmmaker Tim Hetherington, titled "Which Way is the Front Line from Here." Following the screening, Nick Goldberg, Editor of the LA Times Editoral Pages, moderated a moving discussion with Peter Bouckaert, HRW Emergencies Director, and Kelly McEvers, an NPR Correspondent who covered the wars in Iraq and Syria. HRW is grateful to all of the guests, volunteers, and panelists for supporting the event. HRW would also especially like to thank Catharine and Jeffrey Soros for sponsoring the event, and Laurel Glen Vineyard for donating wine. Save the date for Sunday, January 26, 2014, when HRW will screen "Bidder 70." Stay tuned for more details!