EXPOSE INJUSTICE. TEACH CHANGE. RIGHT WRONG. HEAL PAIN. JOIN US. 2016 Annual Report KERRY KENNEDY President
Dear friends, 2016 was a challenging year for human rights around the world, but Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights redoubled its efforts to make real my father’s vision of a more just and peaceful world for all. Last year saw the launch of our now-successful campaign to close the notorious Rikers Island prison facility in New York, where thousands of incarcerated Americans face violent and inhumane living conditions. We also expanded our efforts to advocate for political prisoners in Egypt, working with local stakeholders to pursue the release of political prisoners like Aya Hijazi, Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed and Malek Adly, who faced authoritarian punishments for working to build strong civil society protections for Egyptians. We expanded our human rights education curricula in every corner of the world, from strong launch events in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and Norway to hosting regional training summits in Los Angeles, Indianapolis and New York City. We engaged our business community by convening over 200 attendees at our Hyannis Port Compass Conference, where leaders in industry and finance learned new ways to invest with socially responsible goals in mind. Across issue areas and nations, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is doing more than ever befroe to carry on my father’s legacy.
2 | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Half a Century Ago, Robert F. Kennedy’s family and friends dedicated themselves to carrying on his unfinished work of standing with those who fight against oppression. Today, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights works alongside local activists to ensure lasting positive change in governments, corporations and communities. Our team includes leaders in advocacy, politics, business, community organizing, music, television and more, united by a commitment to social justice.
OUR WORK TAKING ACTION, Whether in the United States or abroad, our GETTING RESULTS programs focus on the pursuit of justice. ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION TEACHING HUMAN RIGHTS SECURED THE RELEASE Our human rights education program, Speak Truth To of 20-year old student Power, encourages students to gain an understanding of Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed pressing human rights issues, and build hands-on activism AFTER TWO YEARS OF experience through activities that encourage direct IMPRISONMENT IN EGYPT engagement with decision makers in their localities. ENGAGING THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY TEACHING HUMAN RIGHTS RFKennedy Compass works closely with institutional investors and business leaders to promote investment STTP Canada approaches that consider human rights, women and OUTSTANDING received the minority advancement and good corporate governance. ACHIEVEMENT Award of IN NEW MEDIA LITIGATION & ADVOCACY Robert F. Kennedy Partners for Human Rights’ team of by the Canadian Museums Association lawyers and issue experts collaborate with allies in the United States and abroad to create lasting legal change. Through legal advocacy, we have freed political prisoners, ENGAGING THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY defended the rule of law in autocratic regimes and Conferences featured speakers including: amplified the voices of human rights defenders. HENRY DEVAL ARUNMA INSPIRING YOUNG LEADERS CISNEROS PATRICK OTEH Young Leaders convenes professionals engaged in making former Secretary of the former Vice President of U.S. Department of Massachusetts the World Bank their world a more just and fair place. These innovative, Housing and Urban Governor influential and philanthropic young adults host events, Development share ideas and take action that results in new approaches to human rights advocacy. INSPIRING YOUNG LEADERS THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY LEGACY Robert F. Kennedy Young Leaders #CLOSErikers Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. called him “the most creative man in campaigned in support of the American public life.” We honor Robert F. Kennedy’s legacy #CLOSErikers CAMPAIGN, by continuing his efforts to create a more just and peaceful turning out in large numbers to a series world, and by introducing his legacy and inspiring new of #CLOSErikers actions designed to generations to make a difference. permanently shutter the notorious prison
2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 3 2016 Year in Review ADVOCACY AND LITIGATION
Fought arbitrary detention in Egypt: • We secured the release of 20-year old student Mahmoud “This is our vision Mohamed Ahmed after two years of imprisonment in Egypt. Mahmoud was arbitrarily arrested, tortured, and unlawfully detained since 2014 for wearing a January for the world – a 25 protest scarf and a t-shirt with the slogan “a nation without torture.” diversity of states • After 100 days, Egyptian human rights lawyer, Malek Adly was released from the cruel, inhuman and degrading bound together by conditions of solitary confinement in Egypt. Fought to protect freedom of expression in Colombia: a respect for the • We filed a case before the Inter-American Court on Human Rights in March regarding the unsolved murder rights of others, by a of Colombian journalist Nelson Carvajal in 1998, who was killed to silence his work of denouncing the corruption of local authorities. loyalty to the world Fought to end discrimination in the US criminal justice system: community and by the • We launched domestic programming to reduce pretrial detention in jails. faith in the dignity and • We joined the #CLOSErikers campaign and became one of the leading voices to close the Rikers Island jail responsibility of man.” complex in New York. –Robert F. Kennedy • We submitted reports to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the United Nations examining the excessive and discriminatory use of force by police against black Americans in the United States.
4 | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT TEACHING HUMAN RIGHTS
“Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.” –Robert F. Kennedy
Internationally: • STTP Canada received the Award of Outstanding Achievement in New Media by the Canadian Museums Association; • STTP introduced a pilot program in 12 schools in England reaching 800 students. Regional Summits: • STTP held two regional summits in San Francisco and Brussels during year one of a two-year $400,000 grant from Humanity United. 5th annual Speak Truth To Power Video Contest Winner: • “How to Be an American Muslim: A Satire” by Patrick Our human rights education curriculum McGarry from Farmville, NJ launched in: Speak Up, Sing Out Music Contest Winner: • Norway, Portugal, and Spain • “Invisible” by Jade Rhodes from Los Angeles, CA Within the United States we held trainings in: Speak Truth To Power Book: • Baltimore, Boston, Elkhart, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and • Kerry’s new book, “Speak Truth To Power: A Guide to New York City Defending Human Rights” includes the stories of human Week-long theatre camps were held in: rights defenders and lesson plans for elementary, • Los Angeles and New York City middle, high school and university students. The book will be converted to an e-book and sold on Amazon and We launched lesson plans on: in university book stores. • Refugees and child marriage
2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 5 2016 Year in Review ENGAGING THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY
“An impressive and inspiring conference that shows the standards to which asset managers must rise if we are to play our part in tackling the human rights abuses that still exist around the world.” –Compass Conference Attendee
RFKennedy Compass Hyannis Port, M.A. Conference • 7th Annual Hyannis Port Conference • Over 200 attendees • 25 sponsors • Keynote Speakers included: Henry Cisneros, Chairman, CityView and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Scott Minerd, Chairman of Guggenheim Investments and Global Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Partners; Deval Patrick, Managing Director, Bain Capital and former Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
RFKennedy Compass East Coast Conference • 5th Annual East Coast Conference • Over 80 attendees • 25 sponsors • Keynote Speakers included: David O’Sullivan, Ambassador, European Union to the US; Arunma Oteh, Vice President and Treasurer, World Bank; Dr. Sarah Sewall, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, U.S. Department of State; Bob Woodward, Associate Editor, The Washington Post
6 | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT INSPIRING YOUNG LEADERS
RFKYL Speaker Series The recurring RFKYL Speakers Series features top young “Each time a man activists who are leading the fight for human rights and creating change in innovative, impactful ways. To date, our Speakers Series has educated and mobilized over 1,000 stands up for an ideal, young New Yorkers on today’s most pressing issues. or acts to improve the In 2016, that series included an appearance by Maggie Dunne, an activist fighting for indigenous peoples’ rights and the founder of Lakota Children’s Enrichment, a for- lot of others, or strikes purpose nonprofit that empowers youth on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota through opportunities in the out against injustice, arts, education, sports, leadership and mentorship. Robert F. Kennedy Young Leaders also continued our work in he sends forth a tiny support of the #CLOSErikers campaign, turning out in large numbers to a series of #CLOSErikers events and protests, ripple of hope” as well as hosting a screening of the new Bill Moyers documentary, RIKERS. –Robert F. Kennedy
2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 7 Our Year in Review ROBERT F. KENNEDY LEGACY
• INTERNATIONAL PRINT: “Seafood from Slaves, “ Martha Mendoza, Margie Mason, Robin McDowell, and Esther Htusan, The Associated Press • DOMESTIC PHOTOGRAPHY: “The Geography of Poverty,” Matt Black, MSNBC • INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: “Europe’s Migrant Crisis,” Carolyn Cole, Los Angeles Times • RADIO: “Injured Nurses,” Daniel Zwerdling, NPR News • NEW MEDIA: “Exxon: The Road Not Taken”, Neela Banerjee, John Cushman, Jr., David Hasemyer, and Lisa Song, InsideClimate News • CARTOON: “Editorial Cartoons,” Angelo Lopez, Philippines Today • DOMESTIC TELEVISION: “Citizenfour,” Laura Poitras, HBO Robert F. Kennedy Book and Journalism Awards: • INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION: “Escaping Isis,” Edward Book Award Winner: Watts, Raney Aronson, John Bredar, Andrew Metz, and Once in a Great City: A Detroit Story, by David Maraniss Evan Williams, FRONTLINE/WGHB
Journalism Award Winners: Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Recipient: • HIGH SCHOOL BROADCAST: “The Jellybean Jar of Life: • Glenn E. Martin, Founder, JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA) Nick’s Story,” Becca Kristofferson, Jacob Jaeger, Dylan • Andrea James, Founder and Executive Director, Goodman, and Seamus Levin, Mexico High School, Families for Justice as Healing; Founder, National Missouri Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated • HIGH SCHOOL PRINT: “What One Family Can Never Women and Girls Forget,” Anthony Kristensen, North Star, Francis Howell Ripple of Hope Award Recipients: North High School, Missouri • Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States • COLLEGE JOURNALISM: “Land of Broken Promises,” • Scott Minerd, Chairman of Investments and Global Chief Depth Reporting Class, Meek School of Journalism and Investment Officer, Managing Partner, Guggenheim New Media, University of Mississippi Partners • DOMESTIC PRINT: ”Beware the Fine Print,” Jessica • Howard Schultz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Silver-Greenberg, Michael Corkery, Robert Gebeloff, Starbucks and Christine Kay, The New York Times
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achive greatly” –Robert F. Kennedy
8 | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Our Community John R. Lewis BOARD MEMBERS Frederic H. Mayerson LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Herbert Miller, Jr. Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy, Founder John E. Nolan, Jr. CHAIRS Robert Smith, Chair John Reilly Ethel Kennedy, Founder, Robert F. Kennedy Terry Mazany, Co-Vice Chair Dean W. Rudoy Human Rights Robert Wolf, Co-Vice Chair Benno C. Schmidt Marc Spilker Anthony Williams, Treasurer and Secretary W. Dean Smith Frank A. Baker Barbara Smith FOUNDERS Peter Barbey Jean Kennedy Smith William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President, Harry Belafonte David Stein United States of America Tim Cook Elizabeth Stevens Thomas P. DiNapoli, Comptroller, State of New Larry Cox George Stevens, Jr. York Dr. Stephen DeCherney Franklin Thomas Kirsten Gillibrand, Senator, State of New York Peter B. Edelman Dorothy Tubridy Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., Lazard Mark E. Freitas William vanden Heuvel Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Former Kenneth Goldman Adam Walinsky Ambassador to Japan Claudio Grossman David Wang Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Human Richard C. Iannuzzi James W. Whittaker Rights Philip W. Johnston Andrew Young Denise L. Nappier, Treasurer, State of Joe Kennedy III Connecticut Kerry Kennedy Gina Raimondo, Governor, State of Rhode Island Matthew Kennedy Amartya Sen, Winner, Nobel Prize in Economics Niclas Kjellstrom-Matseke YOUNG LEADERS BOARD Anne Simpson, CalPERS Marialina Marcucci Ian Manheimer Ash Williams, Board of Administration, State of Elisa Massimino Ben Erwin Florida B. Scott Minerd Frances Simpson Allen James J. Pinto Ayme Sinclair NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES Michael H. Posner Billie Gibson Oscar Arias, Former President, Costa Rica John W. Rogers, Jr. Lindsay McNeil Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo Marvin S. Rosen Becca Denenberg Ouided Bouchamaoui, Hedi Bouchamaoui Group Malika Saada Saar Brandon Clark Shirin Ebadi, Defender of Human Rights Center Dr. Jeffrey Sachs Carolina Velasquez Mohamed El Baradei, International Atomic Henry S. Schleiff Josh Thompson Energy Agency Martin Sheen Cassandra Simpson Jose Ramos-Horta, Former President, Timor Pedro Torres-Mackie Emily Santos L’Este Donato Tramuto Erik Coler Leyman Gbowee, Women Peace and Security Luz Vega-Marquis Maggie Dunne Network Jim Wiatt Fatima Anwar Tawakkul Karman, Women Journalists Without Jae Spivey Chains Ex Officio Board Members: Jordan Joseph Kailash Satyarthi, Children’s Rights Activist Lynn Delaney Justin Lam David Trimble, Former First Minister of Northern Michael Schreiber Julia Melim Ireland Kate Kennedy Desmond M. Tutu, Former Archbishop of Cape Marika Shiga Town TRUSTEES Michael Hardaway Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Political Activist Olivia Heil Lech Walesa, Labor Activist; Former President, John Baldwin Tiffany Barros Erwin Poland William G. Barry Tyler Davis Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank Hodding Carter III Roosevelt Donat Robert Coles Mary Elizabeth Elkordy VISIONARIES Greg Craig Jaqueline Vicino Diane Spilker Gerald Cummins Richard O'Reilly Vardis and Marianna Vardinoyannis John W. Douglas Katie James Katherine W. Evans Julia Melim CHAMPIONS Lee Fentress Andrea Luxenberg Anne Finucane, Global Strategy and Investment Michael Fuchs Nkem Osian Officer, Bank of America Dan Glickman Lily Safra, Chair, The Edmond J. Safra Danny Glover Philanthropic Foundation Doris Kearns Goodwin Richard Goodwin GROUNDBREAKERS Timothy Hagan Wendy and Jim Abrams Thomas M. C. Johnston Roger C. Altman, Evercore Partners Vernon Jordan Liz and Eric Lefkofsky
2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 9 Catherine Huxing Alexandra Lebenthal Vanessa Redgrave Vincent Mai Fay and Daniel Levin Gloria Reuben Paolo Marcucci, Kedrion Raymond J. McGuire, Citigroup Susan Sarandon Howard L. Nations, Law Offices of Howard L. Dennis Mehiel, Four M Investments Stanley Tucci Nations Fancesco Aletti Montano Debra Winger Howard Rubin, Rubin Systems Inc./ Rubin Brooke S. Parish Alfre Woodard Worldwide Mahsa and Jay Pelosky Marco Tronchetti Provera, Pirelli Federico Rolando Susan N. Wilson David M. Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group Maureen White and Steve Rattner Karen D. Seitz, Fusion Partners FOUNDATION DONATIONS James and Monica Shay 1111 Foundation ACTIVISTS Dewey Shay AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust Joe Armstrong Elizabeth Smith American Endowment Foundation Afsaneh Beschloss, The Rock Creek Group David Solow and Brooke Hillman Elkhart Education Foundation Daniele Bodini, American Continental Properties Richard Sternhell Fund II Foundation Group Adolfo Vannucci George Lucas Foundation Mark and Monique Boling Henry and Peggy Schleiff Family Foundation John Boyer, Maximus Foundation ARTISTS Howard Gilman Foundation Tonio Burgos, Tonio Burgos and Associates Alec and Hilaria Baldwin Humanity United Michael Chu, Catterton Partners Javier Bardem Kenneth Cole Foundation Susan Crown and William Kunkler, III Natasha Bedingfield Ladenburg Foundation Mark DeVincentis, Crescent Capital Group Michael Bolton Lindley Foundation Ben Erwin, CharityBuzz Lorraine Bracco Loren Hershey Family Foundation Gail Evertz, Guggenheim Partners Timothy Daly Lost and Foundation Inc. Richard E. Farley, Levin Naftalis & Frankel Peter Gallagher Mai Family Foundation Joseph S. Fichera, Saber Partners Melanie Griffith Marguerite Casey Foundation Laurence Fink, BlackRock Charles Grobin Maximus Foundation Alan and Dafna Fleischmann Dennis Haysbert Melinda and William J. Vanden Heuvel Chipman Flowers Cheryl Hines Foundation Meera Gandhi Samuel L. Jackson Moore Charitable Trust Jonah Goodhart, Moat Scarlett Johansson National Endowment for Democracy Albert Gore III, Strategic Capital Partners Quincy Jones Open Society Foundations Robert C. Gottlieb, Gottlieb & Gordon Keegan-Michael Kay Starbucks Foundation Andrew and Shannon Hayden Catherine Keener Strauss Foundation The Heidegger Family Richard Kind Susan and Leonard Feinstein Foundation Rafi Jafri Eva Longoria Swedish Postcode Lottery Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Former Chad Lowe Tramuto Foundation Lieutenant Governor, State of Maryland Kate Mulgrew Vornado Realty Trust Orin Kramer Mandy Patinkin Weiss Family Foundation Sheri Layton Elisa Pugliese Financials GROWTH REVENUES CONTRIBUTIONS 87% & GRANTS SPENDING Historical Revenues, EXPENSES Total Spending: $7,535,316 Expenses, and Assets NET ASSETS Partners for Human Rights $1,422,237 Speak Truth To Power $946,697 13,000,000 REVENUE 12,000,000 RFK Compass $908,943 11,000,000 Total Revenue: 10,000,000 $10,425,200* RFK Legacy $446,337 9,000,000 Juvenile Justice $83,584 8,000,000
7,000,000 RFK Europe $225,496
6,000,000 Book & Journalism $134,780 5,000,000 <1% 4,000,000 7% RFK Young Leaders $108,078 OTHER INCOME SPECIAL EVENTS 3,000,000 REVENUES Communications $312,583 2,000,000 DONATED EXPENSES 6% 1,000,000 GOODS & SERVICES Management & General $1,580,840 0 NET ASSETS 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 *Includes approximately $1 million loss in benefits Fundraising $1,365,741 related to exchange transactions.
10 | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT Our Team Mary-Elaine Jenkins, Development Associate Monsieree de Castro, Program Associate MANAGEMENT & Caroline Mills, Development Associate Brian Hanafin, Programs Associate ADMINISTRATION Hannah Wheelwright, Programs Assistant and Human Rights Award Coordinator Kerry Kennedy, President TEACHING HUMAN RIGHTS Colombe Cahen-Salvador, Legal Fellow Michael Schreiber, Chief Operating Officer Mai El-Sadany, Dale and James J. Pinto Fellow Lynn Delaney, Senior Adviser & Executive John Heffernan, Executive Director Naomi Fenwick, Donald M. Wilson Fellow Director, RFK Legacy, Awards & Special Karen Robinson, Senior Manager of Training and Christina Fetterhoff, Donald M. Wilson Fellow Projects Education William Juhn, Dale and James J. Pinto Fellow Joseph Kotwicki, Director of Finance Jenny Girardi, Program Coordinator Amira Mikhail, Legal Fellow Brigette Vannall Wallace, Accountant Mary McCoy, West Coast Coordinator Sandeep Prasanna, UCLA School of Law Public Nelson Lewis, Executive Assistant to the Beverly Meyer, STTP Curriculum West Coast Service Fellow President Educational Coordinator Juan F. Ramirez, Legal Fellow Brendan Nguyen, Business Management Yanique Rae, Office Administrator/Program Anne-Claire Wilhite Olivera, Legal Fellow Analyst Assistant Lauren Thomas, Salesforce Administrator Karen Sklaire, STTP Theater Camp Coordinator/ Ricarda Velez-Negron, Office Manager Lead Teacher INSPIRING YOUNG LEADERS Ismael Cervantes, Database/Operations Administrator Sierra Ewert, Director Diane Labadie (Fin/Dev/Legacy) ENGAGING THE INVESTMENT Eli Dreyfus, Community Engagement Coordinator COMMUNITY Jeremiah Agenyi, Atlas Fellow COMMUNICATIONS Rita Gail Johnson, Director of Investor Engagement Daniel Cronin, Senior Manager of Marketing and Elizabeth Windham, Conference Coordinator CONSULTANTS Communications Laura Marcucci, Marketing and Communications Marina Cascella, Assistant to the Executive Officer ADVOCACY & LITIGATION Director, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Kick Kennedy, Marketing and Communications Europe Associate Santiago Canton, Executive Director Jennifer Collier, Juvenile Justice Collaborative Ariun Enkhsaikhan, Communications Assistant Angelita Baeyens, Programs Director Project Director Wade McMullen, Managing Attorney Jennifer Kakaletris, Graphic Designer Andrea Galindo, Director, Robert F. Kennedy Christina Taylor, Event Coordinator DEVELOPMENT Training Institute Lydia Allen, Program Officer for the Americas Wendi Huestis, Chief Development, Marketing Amparo Barrera, Program Officer FOREIGN AFFILIATE OFFICES and Communications Officer David McKean, Program Officer Suzanne Lutz, Associate Director Kacey Mordecai, Program Officer RFK France Megan Loeb, Development Manager Jeffrey Smith, Program Officer RFK Italy RFK Switzerland
“Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted—when we tolerate what we know to be wrong—when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy, or too frightened—when we fail to speak up and speak out—we strike a blow against freedom and decency and justice.” –Robert F. Kennedy
2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 11 “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.” –Robert F. Kennedy
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Kerry Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights
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RFKennedyEurope.org Cover photo: Courtesy of JFK Library 2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 12