Co-Chairs

Nancy Cushing-Jones
Along with two partners, Nancy runs a content company with special focus in the areas of media, marketing and merchandising. Her clients run the gamut from profit to non-profit, and from major media companies to independent rights holders. Previously, Nancy was the President of Universal Studios Publishing Rights for 13 years and Executive Vice President of Universal Studios Consumer Products Group for 8 years. She was a Policy Committee member of the Hollywood Women's Political Committee for the last four years of its existence and is an active supporter of the American Friends Service Committee. She has a longstanding interest in human rights and has been involved with Human Rights Watch since 1993.

Lorraine L. Loder
Lorraine has been a business attorney for 27 years. In addition to her legal practice, she was an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School. She is a past president of the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles. She also served as co-chair of the Community Police Advisory Board for the Los Angeles Police Department, Central Division and as Vice President of Public Policy for the National Association of Women Business Owners. Lorraine has been active in human rights for 20 years, including serving as chair of the Individual Rights Section of the 26,000 member Los Angeles County Bar Association and serving as chair of two different amicus brief committees for other organizations for which she helped draft numerous briefs on women's rights and other human rights issues. She has been a supporter of Human Rights Watch since 1989 and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Women's Rights Division of Human Rights Watch.

Barbara Silberbusch
Born and raised in The Netherlands, Barbara came to Los Angeles in 1991 and obtained her Masters of Law (LL.M.) degree from UCLA School of Law in 1992. Barbara started her legal career at the law firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, where she is now a partner, and specializes in Trusts and Estates law. She was introduced to Human Rights Watch
by a partner at the firm in 1994. She joined the Los Angeles Women's Rights Committee in 2001, and currently serves as one of the Committee's three co-chairs. In that capacity, her primary focus has been on raising funds for the Women's Rights Division, and inspiring others to get involved with Human Rights Watch.

Vice Chairs

Erica Rothschild
Erica Rothschild is a writer and producer. She has written movies and television for MTV, Disney, the WB, Nickelodeon, and Comedy Central. She is the chair of the Writers Guild of America’s Activities Committtee, and also served on the WGA's Pre-Strike Committee. She has been involved in Human Rights Watch and the Women’s Rights Committee since 2000.

Susi Bahat
Born and raised in Frankfurt/Main Germany, Susi Bahat studied architecture in Paris at the École des Beaux Arts and in London at the Architectural Association. She obtained a Masters of Architecture from the University of Washington. Susi started her own firm, Susi Bahat Design, in 1982, specializing in residential remodel and new construction. She was a founding member of WIZO (Woman's International Zionist Organization), which supports facilities for women and children in Israel. Susi joined the Los Angeles Women's Rights Committee of Human Rights Watch in 2004, focusing on raising funds and awareness for the Women's Rights Division.

Steering Committee Members
Kenna Ackley
Heidi Binford
Katie Braude
Adelle Chabelski
Ellen Dubois
Deborah Fischler
Bronwyn Garrity
Mary Garvey
Barbara Gortikov
Nicole Graebner
Marjan Hezareh
Claudia Kahn
Judith Koffler
Blaine Mallory
Nahid Massoud
Soheila Nakhtar
Celeste Owens
Bianca Philippi
Anne Rimoin
Carol Richards
Vicki Riskin
Heidi Rummel
Julianne Scott
Marla Stone
Don Taylor
Patricia Williams