Brittany Benowitz
Independent expert
phone: (202) 662-1743
Independent expert
phone: (202) 662-1743
security assistance | export control, transfer policy and laws
Since 2011, Brittany Benowitz has served as the director of the ABA Justice Defenders Program and chief counsel for the Center for Human Rights. In her capacity as founding director of the Justice Defenders Program, Ms. Benowitz has managed the provision of technical legal assistance to at-risk judges, prosecutors, anti-corruption advocates, and human rights defenders in over 65 countries. She has published extensively and testified before Congress on issues related to closing civic space, judicial independence, counterterrorism, transitional justice, and the relationship between grand corruption and human rights. Previously, she served for four years as a defense advisor to a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where she conducted oversight of foreign assistance programs; arms control issues; security sector reform policies; and waste, fraud, and abuse in defense spending. She has worked on litigation in civil and criminal courts both in the United States and abroad and conducted human rights investigations in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. She received her JD from the Washington College of Law at American University and is a member of the Order of the Coif.
Since 2011, Brittany Benowitz has served as the director of the ABA Justice Defenders Program and chief counsel for the Center for Human Rights. In her capacity as founding director of the Justice Defenders Program, Ms. Benowitz has managed the provision of technical legal assistance to at-risk judges, prosecutors, anti-corruption advocates, and human rights defenders in over 65 countries. She has published extensively and testified before Congress on issues related to closing civic space, judicial independence, counterterrorism, transitional justice, and the relationship between grand corruption and human rights. Previously, she served for four years as a defense advisor to a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where she conducted oversight of foreign assistance programs; arms control issues; security sector reform policies; and waste, fraud, and abuse in defense spending. She has worked on litigation in civil and criminal courts both in the United States and abroad and conducted human rights investigations in Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. She received her JD from the Washington College of Law at American University and is a member of the Order of the Coif.
Recent Publications:
- "Human Rights, Civilian Harm, and Arms Sales: A Primer on U.S. Law and Policy," CIVIC, February 15, 2022.
- "Toward A More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy: Recommendations for the Biden-Harris Administration," Just Security, January 19, 2021.*
- "How the U.N. Can Help Prevent the Spread of Proxy Conflicts," Just Security, May 27, 2020.
- "How States Supporting Armed Proxies Can Reduce Civilian Casualties and Protracted Hostilities," Just Security, May 20, 2020.
- "Why No One Ever Wins a Proxy War," Just Security, May 11, 2020.
- "Time to Get a Handle on America’s Conduct of Proxy Warfare," Lawfare, April 9, 2020.
- "Why Support for U.N.-backed Anti-Corruption Commission in Guatemala is Vital to U.S. Interests," Just Security, Sept. 24, 2018.
* Indicates that piece was co-written by another author/authors