As the end of the first year of this Trump administration nears, experts in the responsible arms trade, human rights, and anti-corruption communities gather on International Human Rights Day to assess a rapidly changing political and security environment that brings new challenges and opportunities. The list of concerning developments is long, including highly controversial changes to the implementation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the removal of topics from annual human rights country reports, the provision of weapons and other assistance to corrupt and repressive regimes, the use of military force both inside and outside the borders of the United States, and more. At the same time, there are also new opportunities to better identify and prevent malign actors from diverting U.S. defense and security equipment.
In coming together in the same room, attendees will dive into key topics each community is grappling with in an effort to better understand where their work intersects and better collaboration may be possible. Join us for a half-day conference that features a keynote address and three distinct panels on December 10, 2025. Organized via a partnership of Amnesty International USA, the Anti-Corruption Advocacy Network (ACAN), and the Forum on the Arms Trade.
DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (International Human Rights Day)
TIME: 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM (light breakfast at 8:30AM)
LOCATION: 1150 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Register here.
Agenda*
9:00 Keynote Address
In coming together in the same room, attendees will dive into key topics each community is grappling with in an effort to better understand where their work intersects and better collaboration may be possible. Join us for a half-day conference that features a keynote address and three distinct panels on December 10, 2025. Organized via a partnership of Amnesty International USA, the Anti-Corruption Advocacy Network (ACAN), and the Forum on the Arms Trade.
DATE: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (International Human Rights Day)
TIME: 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM (light breakfast at 8:30AM)
LOCATION: 1150 18th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Register here.
Agenda*
9:00 Keynote Address
- Representative Joaquin Castro (Texas - 20th district)
9:30 Panel I - Arms Trade
- John Ramming Chappell, US Advocacy & Legal Advisor, Center for Civilians in Conflict
- Elizabeth Rghebi, MENA Advocacy Director, Amnesty International USA
- Elias Yousif, Fellow and Deputy Director of the Conventional Defense Program, Stimson Center
- Jeff Abramson, Senior Non-Resident Fellow, Center for International Policy and Director, Forum on the Arms Trade (moderator)
10:15 Panel II - Anti-Corruption
- Julia Gledhill, Research Analyst, Stimson Center
- Colby Goodman, Senior Researcher, Transparency International U.S.
- Elsa Peraldi, Consultant, EG Justice
- Jodi Vittori, Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, Georgetown University (moderator)
11:00 Break
11:15 Panel III - Human Rights
- Kevin G. Hall, North America Editor, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
- David McKean, Executive Director, International Corporate Accountability Roundtable (ICAR)
- Sophie Richardson, Senior China Advisor, Climate Rights International
- Amanda Klasing, National Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Amnesty International USA (moderator)
12:00 Closing Remarks
* Last updated December 8, 2025.
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This event is public and will be recorded. While the organizers are delighted to welcome the speakers and participants who will join in, they are not responsible for the statements made and should not necessarily be considered as endorsing them. Individual statements should be attributed to their respective speakers