Peace Programs

Human Rights Program

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Human Rights Initiatives


Karin D. Ryan, Director

Karin Ryan joined the Carter Center's Human Rights Initiatives in 1988. As director, Ms. Ryan works with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Mrs. Rosalynn Carter on a range of issues, including assisting their efforts on behalf of victims of human rights violations through personal interventions with heads of state.

She has represented the Center in many international negotiations, including the International Criminal Court, the human rights of women, the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, and most recently on the establishment of a U.N. Human Rights Council, and has worked closely with the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to organize expert consultations designed to strengthen the role of the OHCHR within the United Nations system.

Ms. Ryan earned bachelors' degrees in political science from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., and in contemporary writing and production from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. She has participated in the Center's election observation missions to Haiti, the occupied Palestinian Territories, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria. She has also coordinated the annual "Human Rights Defenders Policy Forum," from 2003-2006, whose aim is to support those on the frontlines of the struggle for human rights and democracy all over the world.

Sam Jones, Assistant Director


Sam Jones supports the management of the Carter Center's programs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which are focused on reforming the justice sector, partnering with Congolese organizations to promote and protect human rights, working with women's organizations to combat sexual violence, and advocating for transparent and accountable practices by mining companies.  Mr. Jones also actively contributes to the Human Rights Program's work in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, which includes partnerships with a range of Palestinian, Israeli, and international human rights activists and peace building organizations. He joined The Carter Center in May 2008.

Mr. Jones previously worked as the regional representative for Asia/Near East for Counterpart International in Washington, D.C. where he managed an expansive portfolio of programs in Iraq and Jordan designed to reform the justice system, train citizens how to advocate for their needs and interests, resettle refugees, and develop community infrastructure. He also led Counterpart's emergency and development assessment missions to Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territories, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.  Mr. Jones has also worked for Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in the occupied Palestinian territories, where he was responsible for field-based research, reporting, and international advocacy on a range of human rights issues. Mr. Jones earned his master's degree in international peace and conflict resolution from American University's School of International Service and his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville.




Valerie Harden, Program Associate

Valerie Harden joined The Carter Center in July 2004. She contributes to the program's work in promoting protection of human rights defenders and increasing their access to policymakers. She also works on the Center's post-election activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She served as an observer in the first-round of the country's 2006 presidential elections and previously worked as a research assistant for a company monitoring political and conflict trends in the DRC and central Africa.
 
Before coming to the Center, she was a research assistant at Emory Law School's Religion and Human Rights project, which brought scholars and activists together to explore the relationship between human rights and Islam. Prior to her work at the law school, she worked for the International Rescue Committee. She earned her bachelor's degree in International Studies from Emory University.