Holly Burkhalter

Holly Burkhalter serves as vice president of government relations for International Justice Mission. IJM is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators, and after-care professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators, and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems.

Ms. Burkhalter graduated from Iowa State University in 1978 (Phi Beta Kappa) and received the university's "Outstanding Young Alumnus" award in 1984. Before joining IJM, Ms. Burkhalter most recently served as the U.S. policy director of Physicians for Human Rights, a Boston-based human rights organization specializing in medical, scientific, and forensic investigations of violations of internationally recognized human rights. Prior to joining Physicians for Human Rights, Ms. Burkhalter worked with Human Rights Watch for 14 years as advocacy director and director of its Washington office. Previously, Ms. Burkhalter staffed the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations from 1981 to 1983. From 1977 to 1981 she worked for Rep. (now Sen.) Tom Harkin (D-IA).

As vice president for government relations, Ms. Burkhalter serves as IJM's liaison with Congress and the executive branch of the U.S. government. She is a source of expertise about human rights abuses suffered by IJM’s clients in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and advises policymakers about strategies to bring U.S. influence to bear on behalf of victims of these crimes.

Ms. Burkhalter is a frequent witness before Congress, testifying most recently on the issue of HIV/AIDS and the health worker shortage in Africa (House International Relations Committee, 2005), on HIV/AIDS in Asia (House International Relations Committee, 2004), and on HIV transmission in medical settings (Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 2003).

Ms. Burkhalter publishes articles and opinion pieces regularly on a range of human rights issues including HIV/AIDS, genocide, women’s rights, and U.S. human rights policy. Ms. Burkhalter’s recent op-eds include "In Africa, Rape as a Risk Factor" (The Washington Post, August 14, 2006),"AIDS and the Evangelicals" (Foreign Affairs, January/February 2004), "Misplaced Help in the AIDS Fight" (The Washington Post, May 25, 2004), "Better Health, Better Lives for Sex Workers" (The Washington Post, December 8, 2003), "Neglecting the Needles" (The Washington Post, September 21, 2003), and "No to Torture" (The Washington Post , January 5, 2003). Ms. Burkhalter is also the author of a chapter on advocacy in the forthcoming book Public Health and Human Rights, published by Johns Hopkins University Press (2006).

Ms. Burkhalter was appointed by President Bill Clinton to be a member of the board of the U.S. Institute for Peace in 2000 and continues to serve as an active board member to the present day. She is also a board member of Mental Disability Rights International. Ms. Burkhalter currently lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and children.