(New York) – Human Rights Watch has named Minjon Tholen to serve as its first global head of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In this role Tholen will ensure that the organization’s commitment to DEI is embedded deeply and systematically across all its work, not only internally but in external partnerships across the wider human rights community as well.
“I am thrilled to join Human Rights Watch at this time of transformational change,” Tholen said. “A holistic, equitable and diverse approach is key to building a globally inclusive and values-led organization inside and out.”
Tholen is charged with embedding DEI as a core principle and practice at Human Rights Watch, and will work with Operations, Human Resources, and Program colleagues to advance this work.
“We are so excited that Minjon Tholen, a true leader in her field, is joining us,” said Wisla Heneghan, deputy executive director and chief operating officer at Human Rights Watch. “She will build on work already underway at Human Rights Watch to live our values and strengthen our culture, and her track record of bringing innovation and transformation to other large and complex global organizations is a huge asset.”
Tholen previously worked at Amnesty International USA as chief inclusion & strategic innovation officer, where she led all people, culture, DEI, and organizational strategy functions. Prior to this, she was at Cook Ross Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in organizational change and DEI management. In that role, she worked with leaders of global firms – including Fortune 500 companies, public institutions, and nonprofits – in more than 20 countries across the world to successfully advance their DEI strategies.
Tholen serves on the board of directors of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a social and racial justice organization in the US, and helped to co-found Inclusion NextWork, which aims to identify the next generation of DEI leaders.
“We hope that Tholen’s appointment to this inaugural role sends a signal to the human rights community that we want to increase and strengthen our partnerships,” said Tirana Hassan, chief program officer at Human Rights Watch. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot be limited to our internal spaces, and we want Human Rights Watch to be at the forefront of helping to create a truly global human rights movement that not only respects local expertise and knowledge, but actively embeds it in our work, our values, and our pathway to change.”
