We are delighted to share the recent ESCR-Net Board elections results for the 2025–2027 term. From November 7 to December 6, 2024, these elections brought together 22 inspiring candidates and engaged 162 organizational members across our global network. The outcome reflects our collective power and unwavering commitment to advancing human rights and social justice worldwide.
We also would like to express our deep gratitude to the leadership and commitment of our previous board who have been instrumental in leading the network over the last three years. Thank you to Binota Moy Dhamai, Irene Escorihuela Blasco, Juana Toledo, Maha Abdullah, and Ryan Schlief.
The new Board members, in collaboration with our global membership, will play a pivotal role in shaping collective strategies, strengthening advocacy efforts, and amplifying the demands of communities worldwide. Representing diverse experiences—including social movements, Indigenous leadership, environmental advocacy, corporate accountability, and human rights law—the elected Board members embody the strength of ESCR-Net’s membership and our shared commitment to a just, equitable, and sustainable world. The mandate of the new board will begin January 1, 2025.
Re-elected Board Members
Christiana Saiti Louwa (World Forum of Fisher Peoples – WFFP, Kenya)
Christiana Saiti, a human rights activist from Kenya, has been at the forefront of Indigenous Peoples’ advocacy for years. As Treasurer of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples, she has championed fisherfolk rights and contributed to key interventions such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Within ESCR-Net, she has demonstrated leadership through active participation in the Women and ESCR and Environment and ESCR Working Groups. Christiana has served on the Board since 2022, and her continued leadership will be invaluable in advancing collective strategies.
Debbie Stothard (ALTSEAN-Burma, Malaysia)
Debbie Stothard, a long-time human rights advocate, Debbie has dedicated decades to advancing justice in conflict-affected regions. As the founder of ALTSEAN-Burma and a former Secretary-General of FIDH, she brings extensive expertise in business and human rights, macroeconomic policy, and women’s leadership. Within ESCR-Net, Debbie has served on the Corporate Accountability Working Group Steering Committee and actively contributed to advocacy on corporate accountability and the Binding Treaty. Her grassroots dedication and ability to amplify marginalized voices make her a vital leader on the Board.
Newly Elected Board Members
Hala Murad (Dibeen Association for Environmental Development, Jordan)
Hala Murad is a climate justice advocate with expertise in environmental policies and advocacy in conflict-affected regions. As the Executive Director of Dibeen Association, she has championed a human rights-based approach to climate issues, including contributions to COP27 negotiations on the Loss and Damage Fund. Her active participation in ESCR-Net’s Environment and ESCR Working Group has been instrumental in promoting rights-based environmental justice. Hala’s regional perspective and passion for equitable resource distribution will enhance the Board’s leadership.
Ayushi Kalyan (FIAN International, Germany)
Ayushi Kalyan, a corporate accountability expert at FIAN International, focuses sharply on decolonial and intersectional perspectives to human rights advocacy. With a law and international human rights background, Ayushi has contributed significantly to ESCR-Net’s Strategic Litigation and Corporate Accountability Working Groups. Her commitment to addressing systemic corporate harm and amplifying grassroots voices will strengthen the Board’s ability to tackle global challenges.
Daniel Santi Gualinga (Pueblo Originario Kichwa de Sarayaku, Ecuador)
Daniel Santi, an Indigenous leader from the Kichwa People of Sarayaku, has extensive expertise in environmental advocacy and Indigenous governance. He has actively represented his community on international platforms, including the UNFCCC, emphasizing the critical role of Indigenous Peoples in addressing climate change. Sarayaku’s engagement with ESCR-Net includes participating in strategic litigation and solidarity exchanges. Daniel’s leadership and dedication to social and environmental justice will strengthen the Network’s collective actions.
Bidya Shrestha Maharjan (Human Rights Awareness Center – HRAC, Nepal)
Bidya Shrestha Maharjan is a prominent leader of the Newa Indigenous Peoples in Nepal, serving as President of the Human Rights Awareness Center and World Newa Guthi. She has advocated for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, resisted illegal road expansions, and preserved cultural heritage. Bidya holds a master’s degree in Rural Development and has extensive training in Indigenous self-governance and human rights advocacy. Her active role in ESCR-Net’s Social Movement Working Group highlights her commitment to addressing systemic inequalities and environmental challenges.
Noam Sandweiss-Back (The Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice, United States)
Noam Sandweiss-Back is a political organizer and writer who has spent the past decade working with movements of the poor and dispossessed in the U.S. As the former Director of Partnerships for the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, and now leading a project at the Kairos Center addressing Christian Nationalism, Noam has been a driving force in grassroots mobilization. His engagement with ESCR-Net has included collaboration through the Environment and ESCR and Social Movement Working Groups, where he has brought valuable insights from U.S.-based anti-poverty movements.
These newly elected Board members embody ESCR-Net’s solidarity, inclusion, and collective leadership principles. We look forward to their contributions as we continue advancing global economic, social, and cultural rights.
