Mariam Memarsadeghi advises human rights and democracy organizations internationally and is an outspoken advocate for women's rights and civil liberties in Islamic contexts. She is an expert on free media and internet initiatives for repressive regime contexts and founded the bi-lingual web magazine Gozaar: A Journal on Democracy and Human Rights in Iran while serving as Senior Program Manager at Freedom House.

Ms. Memarsadeghi has helped international organizations and grassroots groups to promote civic voice and accountable government in varied cultural contexts, including the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and China, as well as countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa. She has analyzed civic struggles for human rights and democratic rule for publications and for media outlets such as the PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer as well as Persian and Arabic language radio and television channels.

She is a frequent speaker at international research institutes such as Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC, the Clingendael Institute for International Affairs at The Hague, the Danish Institute for Human Rights in Copenhagen, and Aspen Institute in Berlin. She has worked for the International Organization for Migration and the International Rescue Committee in conflict and post-conflict contexts, providing humanitarian aid, community rehabilitation and democratization assistance.

Ms. Memarsadeghi has been jointly recognized as a "Transatlantic Young Leader" by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the German Marshall Fund, and was awarded an educational grant from The Washington Post. She studied political science and political theory at Dickinson College (BA) and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst(MA). She was born in Tehran, Iran and emigrated to the US during the Iranian Revolution. She has traveled back to Iran several times since, and has also lived and worked in Italy, Germany, Kosovo and Macedonia. She is fluent in English and her native Persian, and conversant in French, German and Italian.

• Support to civil society activists
  
  
• Civic education
  
  
• Women's rights advocacy in Islamic/Shari'a contexts
  
  
• Free media, internet freedom, cyber-activism and e-learning
  
  
• Conflict prevention, peace building and humanitarian response
  
  
• Election management, monitoring and voter education
  
  
• Research and analysis on civil societies, human rights violations, media environments, conflict dynamics, and democratic development

design and strategy; launch and staffing; work plan development and implementation; sustainability planning; monitoring, evaluation and donor reporting

civic education; human rights monitoring, documentation and advocacy; civic activism; government watchdog training; free media development

full proposal writing and fundraising services; strategic planning and organizational growth; web outreach

on-the-ground research on programming opportunities and recommendations; country assessments; lessons learned and evaluation reports

"Mariam combines a sophisticated understanding of Middle Eastern politics with the ability to see how things might change. Her commitment to basic freedoms and her resourcefulness in coming up with new strategies to promote them are impressive."

--Michele Dunne
Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Editor, Arab Reform Bulletin

"Mariam brings to her democratic development efforts a combination of expert strategic planning and a deep rooted passion for individual rights. Her work ethic and integrity are exemplary."

--Rend Al Rahim
Executive Director, Iraq Foundation
Former Iraqi Ambassador to the United States

"I have known Mariam for over a decade. What is so striking is that Mariam's combination of energy and focus brings her openness as a superb listener to new heights. Mariam's listening quality enables her to be a boundary crosser of cultures and political systems. Her work in the Middle East, the Balkans and with women has advanced the strength of civil society and the quality of people lives."

--David Cohen
Senior Fellow, Civic Ventures and Experience Corps
Congressional Senior Fellow, Council for a Livable World
Co-Founder, Advocacy Institute
President, Global Integrity