The Human Rights Watch California Committee North, formed in 2001, is part of a network of support committees composed of opinion leaders from a variety of backgrounds in North America and Europe. The committees constitute an informed and engaged constituency that is essential for the defense of human rights. They seek to increase awareness of local and global human rights issues and enlist the public and governments to support basic rights for all. Committee members meet regularly to learn about human rights crises and policies and support Human Rights Watch through outreach, advocacy, and fundraising initiatives.
Membership in the Human Rights Watch California Committee North provides an inside perspective on one of the most exciting and effective international organizations. Committee members have access to regular briefings by Human Rights Watch investigators, senior government officials, and informed observers. These sessions provide a unique and sophisticated perspective on breaking news and today’s most serious global problems. Committee members strengthen Human Rights Watch and its global defense of essential liberties by contributing financially to its work, attracting potential supporters, and promoting the organization’s message and concerns.
Human Rights Watch also has an active Bay Area Network - a volunteer group of emerging professionals and students dedicated to supporting the work of Human Rights Watch. Their purpose is to engage people interested in human rights and social justice issues and to educate and motivate others to awareness and action. The Bay Area Network hosts a variety of speaker events with human rights researchers and others working in the forefront of the field, conducts roundtable discussion sessions, film screenings, and outreach to youth and educators, and supports the local advocacy and research of Human Rights Watch. For more information, contact hrw.ba.network@gmail.com.
The California Committee North is chaired by Darian W. Swig, advocate for international human rights, humanitarian issues, and strategic philanthropy.
California Committee North
Founded 2000
Chair: Darian W. Swig
Co-Chairs: David Keller, Amy Rao,
Orville Schell
Vice Chairs: Jeff Bleich,
Marty Krasney, Joan Platt
Deputy Director Development and Outreach: Glen Galaich
Manager, California Committee North: Leah Albert
Consuelo Amat
Jeff Anderson
Sara Anderson Hsiao
Carole Angermeir
Nancy Barron and Bryan Kemnitzer
Juliette Bleecker
Christine and Joseph Bouckaert
Rebecca Brackman
Jim Brosnahan
Stuart Burden
Maryles Casto
William K. Coblentz
Chip Conley and Dr. Donald Graves
Peter Coyote
Kim Cranston
Chiara DiGeronimo
Eileen Donahoe
Jack Edelman
Diane Foug
Lynn Fritz
Lydia Graham
Lore Harp McGovern
Tom Higgins
Todd Koons
Pamela Krasney
Derek Lemke-von Ammon
Walter Link
Stephen Mansfield
Nion McEvoy
Ullas Naik
Robert J. Nelson
Janice Parker Callaghan
Nancy Parrish
Lisa Patlis
Robin Wright Penn and Sean Penn
Diane Rice and Spencer Hosie
Elizabeth Rice Grossman
Alice Schaffer Smith
Kathleen and Bruno Schneider
Peter Schwartz
Mani Sheik
Stephen Silberstein
Tom Silk
Marya Stark
Eric Stover
Wendy Webster and Stuart Davidson
Katie J. Zoglin