Los Angeles
News
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California Senate Bill 260 is signed into law, giving thousands of youth sentenced to adult prison terms hope and real opportunities to work toward parole
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.
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HRW Film Club Hosts Screening and Discussion of "Sweet Dreams"
On September 21, 2014 HRW Film Club will host a screening and discussion of "Sweet Dreams" at New Roads School in Santa Monica.
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.
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HRW FILM CLUB HOSTS LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF FOOD CHAINS
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!
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LA Times Op-Ed by Elizabeth Calvin: Growing up behind bars
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.
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Ashton Kutcher joins HRW in Los Angeles to celebrate the courageous work of Alina Diaz and Natalia Taubina
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.
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HRW shows film about photojournalist Tim Hetherington, followed by conversation with HRW Emergencies Director, NPR Correspondent, and LA Times Editor
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!
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LA Network hosts 3rd Annual Art with a Heart at GUSFORD | los angeles!
On August 29, nearly 200 guests attended the LA Network's 3rd Annual Art with a Heart event at GUSFORD | los angeles on Melrose. The evening featured human rights inspired work by talented artists. Guests were able to view the art and enjoy a drink while listening to the music of Haute Mobile Disco. Human Rights Watch is so grateful to all of the artists, sponsors, and volunteers who made the event possible. A special thank you also to GUSFORD | los angeles for hosting the event.
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300 Guests Come Together for Screening and Discussion of "The Invisible War" in Santa Monica
On Sunday, June 23, 2013, 300 guests attended a sold-out screening and disucussion of the Academy Award nominated documentary THE INVISIBLE WAR, at the Ann and and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School. THE INVISIBLE WAR draws attention to the epidemic of sexual assault within the U.S. military. LA Times Film Critic Kenneth Turan moderated a timely panel discussion with the film’s Director, Kirby Dick, and the Producer, Amy Ziering, as well as Liesl Gerntholtz, Director of the Women's Rights Division at HRW, and Tandy Fink, one of the survivors interviewed in the film. Following the screening, guests were invited to a reception catered by Sal Marino of Il Grano. Join HRW for the next Film Club Screening on Sunday, September 29 at New Roads School when we will screen "Which Way Is the Front Line From Here? The Life and Time of Tim Hetherington". Stay tuned for more details!
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Ben Affleck, Ozomatli and 800 supporters gather to celebrate the work of Abbé Benoît Kinalegu at the Voices for Justice Dinner in Los Angeles
On Monday, November 12 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, 800 supporters gathered to celebrate the work of the 2012 HRW Defender from the Congo, Abbé Benoît Kinalegu. Special guest Ben Affleck also shared about his work as co-founder of the Eastern Congo Initiatve, and Ozomatli got the crowd on its feet with an electrifying performance. Thanks to the generosity of our guests and sponsors, this year's Voices for Justice Dinner raised an incredible $1.6 million to support the work of Human Rights Watch in over 90 countries around the world.
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Elise Keppler of HRW and Hannah Garry of USC speak at HRW LA Network Briefing on International Justice
On February 27, the HRW LA Network hosted a briefing at the Feminist Majority Foundation on the topic of International Justice. Nearly 50 guests came to hear from Elise Keppler, senior counsel in HRW's International Justice Program. The discussion was moderated by Hannah Garry, Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at USC Gould School of Law. Elise has authored reports on the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone and Uganda's International Crimes Division. She was also an influential force behind the surrender of Liberian president Charles Taylor to the Special Court.
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LA Times Front Page Discusses Human Rights Watch Report on Disappearances in Mexico
On February 20, 2013, HRW released the 176-page report, “Mexico’s Disappeared: The Enduring Cost of a Crisis Ignored.” It documents how Mexico’s security forces have participated in widespread enforced disappearances. Virtually none of the victims have been found or those responsible brought to justice, exacerbating the suffering of families of the disappeared. The report was the topic of a front page article in the LA Times.
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HRW Co-Hosts Premiere of "Call Me Kuchu" in LA Film Festival
Human Rights Watch (HRW) was thrilled to host "Call Me Kuchu" in the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival in June. This documentary examines the courage and determination required to battle an oppressive government, a vicious media, and a powerful church in the fight for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. Following the U.S. premiere on Saturday, June 16, there was a panel discussion with the filmmakers, two of the protagonists from the film, and Graeme Reid, HRW LGBT Director (pictured above on far right).
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HRW Releases Report in Los Angeles on Saudi Women and Sports
On February 15 at the L.A. Athletic Club, Human Rights Watch released its report “‘Steps of the Devil’: Denial of Women and Girls’ Right to Sport in Saudi Arabia.” The report release came the day before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held its 5th World Conference on Women and Sports in Los Angeles. The Saudi government has never sent a female athlete to the Olympics and is systematically discriminating against women in sports and physical education.
