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Elham Youssefian

Elham Youssefian is an Iranian human rights lawyer and disability rights advocate. She has worked for the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Refugee Assistance Project.

Biography

Youssefian was born in Iran. She is blind.[1]

Youssefian holds a Masters degree in Human Rights Law from the London School of Economics (LSE).[2] After graduating, Youssefian practiced criminal and family law in Iran.[3] She also advocated for the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Government of Iran in 2008.[2][3]

In 2015, Youssefian emigrated to the New York, United States.[2] From 2019 to 2023 she was employed as Inclusive Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor to the International Disability Alliance (IDA),[2] a global network of over 1,100 organisations representing people with disabilities.[4]

In 2024, Youssefian joined the US based non-profit organization International Refugee Assistance Project as Director of Disability Inclusion and Accessibility.[5]

Youssefian has highlighted the need for more intersectional and disability inclusive climate change research and planning, particularly as climate change has a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities.[6][7][8] She has also led the documenting of violations of disability rights in Iran.[2]

Awards

Youssefian was named a BBC 100 Woman in 2023.[4]

References

  1. ^ Future Hacker (9 April 2024). #110 - Inclusive Futures: Disability and Climate Advocacy (Elham Youssefian). Retrieved 22 March 2025 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Elham Youssefian". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Legal Challenges Facing Iran's 'Woman Life Freedom' Movement". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year? - BBC News". News. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  5. ^ "Elham Youssefian". World Bank Live. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  6. ^ Jodoin, Sébastien; Buettgen, Alexis; Groce, Nora; Gurung, Pratima; Kaiser, Carlos; Kett, Maria; Keogh, Mary; Macanawai, Setareki S.; Muñoz, Yolanda; Powaseu, Ipul; Stein, Michael Ashley; Stein, Penelope J. S.; Youssefian, Elham (6 March 2023). "Nothing about us without us: The urgent need for disability-inclusive climate research". PLOS Climate. 2 (3): e0000153. ISSN 2767-3200. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities at COP28". SPARK Inclusive Rural Transformation. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  8. ^ Tran, Lina (13 June 2022). "The world's climate plans overlook people with disabilities". Grist. Retrieved 22 March 2025.