Layli Miller-Muro

Layli Miller-Muro (née Bashir;[1] born March 24, 1972) is an American attorney and activist. She is the founder and Executive Director of Tahirih Justice Center, a national non-profit dedicated to protecting women from human rights abuses such as rape, female genital mutilation/cutting, domestic violence, human trafficking, and forced marriage. Tahirih's holistic model for protection combines free legal services and social services case management with public policy advocacy, education, and outreach.[2]

Layli Miller-Muro
Born
Layli Miller Bashir

(1972-03-24) March 24, 1972
EducationAgnes Scott College (BA)
American University (MA, JD)
OccupationFounder and CEO, Tahirih Justice Center

Human rights advocacy

Miller-Muro founded the organization in 1997 following her involvement in Matter of Kasinga, a high-profile case that set national precedent and changed asylum law in the United States. Fauziya Kassindja, a 17-year-old girl who had fled Togo in fear of a forced polygamous marriage and a tribal practice known as female genital mutilation, was granted asylum in 1996 by the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals.[3] This decision opened the door to recognizing gender-based persecution as grounds for asylum. Using her portion of the proceeds from a book she and Kassindja co-authored about the case (Do They Hear You When You Cry? Delacorte Press, 1998), Miller-Muro established Tahirih.[4]

Since 2001, Miller-Muro has led Tahirih in its service to over 25,000 women and children since 1997,[5][6] growing the non-profit from a staff of 6 to over 70, and expanding its offices from Greater DC to Houston, Baltimore and San Francisco.[7] In recognition of its sound management and innovative programs, under Miller-Muro's leadership, Tahirih won The Washington Post Award for Management Excellence[8] and gained recognition for its innovative use of pro bono services in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.[9]

Prior to joining Tahirih as Executive Director in 2001, Miller-Muro was an attorney at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter where she practiced international litigation. Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Miller-Muro was an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice, Board of Immigration Appeals.[10]

Education

Miller-Muro received her JD and MA in International Relations from American University and B.A. from Agnes Scott College, specializing in political science, sociology and anthropology.[11]

Recognition

Among her many awards and recognitions, Miller-Muro was named DC Young Mother of the Year in 2015 by American Mothers Inc.[12] She was also named one of 50 powerful women religious leaders to celebrate on International Women's Day in 2014 by The Huffington Post,[13] and, in 2013, she received an honorary doctorate from Northern Illinois University.[14] In 2012, she was recognized for her work at Tahirih and named one of Newsweek/The Daily Beast 's 150 Most Fearless Women in the World.[15] In the same year, she received Diane Von Fürstenberg's People's Voice Award[16] and made the list of Goldman Sachs' Top 100 Most Innovative Entrepreneurs.[17] Additionally, in 2010, she was awarded the Smart CEO Brava! Women Business Achievement Award which recognizes 25 female executives who are exemplary leaders within their companies and communities at large.[18]

Personal life

Miller-Muro lives in Washington D.C. with her husband, Gil Miller-Muro, and their three children. She is an active member of the Baháʼí Faith.[19]

See also

References[20]
  1. 104th Commencement Program, American University, Winter 1997
  2. "Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  3. "The Spiritual Defender «  Foundation for a Just Society". www.fjs.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  4. "Staff «  Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  5. "About Us « Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  6. "2016 Impact Report". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  7. "Locations «  Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  8. "The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management | Center for Nonprofit Advancement". www.nonprofitadvancement.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  9. "The Power of Many (SSIR)". www.ssireview.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  10. "Staff «  Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  11. "Agnes Scott College - Layli Miller-Muro". www.agnesscott.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  12. "2015 State Young Mothers of the Year". American Mothers, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  13. "50 Powerful Women Religious Leaders To Celebrate International Women's Day". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  14. "Noted advocate for immigrant women to receive honorary NIU doctorate at May 10 graduation". NIU Today. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  15. "Newsweek and The Daily Beast Honor". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  16. "Oprah and Jaycee Dugard honored at the DVF Awards". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  17. "Layli Miller-Muro Wins 2012 Goldman Sachs Award «  Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  18. "SmartCEO magazine - Required reading for growing companies". SmartCEO magazine - Required reading for growing companies. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  19. "Class Teaches Virtues to Children of Many Faiths". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  20. "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.