Civil Rights Attorney Ehsan Zaffar Joins Human Rights Watch

(PRLeap.com) **LOS ANGELES** - Ehsan Zaffar, civil rights lawyer and founder of The Difference Engine at Arizona State University, has joined Human Rights Watch as a Los Angeles member of the HRW Council. Zaffar joins distinguished committee members including renowned architect Frank Gehry, actors Noah Wyle and Mike Farrell, and other leaders from the entertainment, business, and civil rights communities.

Zaffar brings extensive government experience in civil rights and religious freedom advocacy at a time when authoritarian movements are rising globally and democratic institutions face increasing pressure.

Zaffar served for a decade as Senior Advisor on Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he advised the Secretary on civil rights implications of national security policies and implemented international human rights treaties. His work on religious freedom issues earned him the U.S. State Department's Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy for advancing religious freedom under United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18.

He is the founder of the Los Angeles Mobile Legal Aid Clinic, which pioneered mobile legal services for vulnerable populations, and currently serves as Chief Difference Engineer of The Difference Engine, ASU's Center on the Future of Equality.

Zaffar serves on the boards of ACLU California and Team Rubicon, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Chatham House, and the Pacific Council on International Policy.

"At a time when authoritarians around the world are rewriting the rules to crush dissent and marginalize the vulnerable, Human Rights Watch's documentation and advocacy has never been more critical," said Zaffar. "I'm honored to join their mission to hold power accountable and defend human dignity."

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**About Ehsan Zaffar:** Civil rights lawyer, educator, and founder of The Difference Engine at Arizona State University. Author of "Understanding Homeland Security: Foundations of Security Policy" and host of the "UnfairNation" podcast. Recipient of the U.S. State Department's Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary's Award for Excellence.

**About Human Rights Watch:** Founded in 1978, Human Rights Watch is one of the world's leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. With researchers and advocates in more than 100 countries, HRW investigates and exposes human rights abuses and holds abusers accountable.