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Layli Miller-Muro

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Layli Miller-Muro
Born
Layli Sitarih Miller

(1972-03-24) March 24, 1972 (age 52)
EducationAgnes Scott College (BA)
American University (MA, JD)
Occupation(s)Founder and previous CEO, Tahirih Justice Center

Layli Miller-Muro (née Bashir;[1] born March 24, 1972) is an American attorney and activist. She is the founder and former CEO of Tahirih Justice Center, a national non-profit dedicated to protecting women from human rights abuses such as rape, female genital mutilation/cutting, domestic violence, human trafficking, and forced marriage. Tahirih's holistic model for protection combines free legal services and social services case management with public policy advocacy, education, and outreach.[2]

Human rights advocacy

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Miller-Muro founded the organization in 1997 following her involvement in Matter of Kasinga, a high-profile case that set national precedent and changed asylum law in the United States. Fauziya Kassindja (born 1977), who had fled Togo in fear of a forced polygamous marriage and a tribal practice known as female genital mutilation, was granted asylum in 1996 by the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals.[3]

This decision opened the door to recognizing gender-based persecution as grounds for asylum. Using her portion of the proceeds from a book she and Kassindja co-authored about the case (Do They Hear You When You Cry? Delacorte Press, 1998), Miller-Muro established Tahirih.[4]

Since 2001, she has led Tahirih in serving more than 25,000 women and children since 1997,[5][6] growing the non-profit from a staff of 6 to over 70, and expanding its offices from Greater DC to Houston, Baltimore and San Francisco.[7] In recognition of its sound management and innovative programs, under Miller-Muro's leadership, Tahirih won The Washington Post Award for Management Excellence[8] and gained recognition for its innovative use of pro bono services in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.[9]

Prior to joining Tahirih as executive director in 2001, Miller-Muro was an attorney at the Washington, D.C., law firm of Arnold & Porter, where she practiced international litigation. Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Miller-Muro was an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of Justice, Board of Immigration Appeals.[10]

Education

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Miller-Muro received her JD and MA in International Relations from American University and B.A. from Agnes Scott College, specializing in political science, sociology and anthropology.[11]

Recognition

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Among her many awards and recognitions, Miller-Muro was named DC Young Mother of the Year in 2015 by American Mothers Inc.[12] She was also named one of 50 powerful women religious leaders to celebrate on International Women's Day in 2014 by The Huffington Post,[13] and, in 2013, she received an honorary doctorate from Northern Illinois University.[14]

In 2012, she was recognized for her work at Tahirih and named one of Newsweek/The Daily Beast 's 150 Most Fearless Women in the World.[15] In the same year, she received Diane Von Fürstenberg's People's Voice Award[16] and made the list of Goldman Sachs' Top 100 Most Innovative Entrepreneurs.[17] Additionally, in 2010, she was awarded the Smart CEO Brava! Women Business Achievement Award which recognizes 25 female executives who are exemplary leaders within their companies and communities at large.[18]

Personal life

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Miller-Muro lives in Washington D.C., with her husband, Gil Miller-Muro, and their three children. She is an active member of the Baháʼí Faith.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 104th Commencement Program, American University, Winter 1997
  2. ^ "Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  3. ^ "The Spiritual Defender « Foundation for a Just Society". www.fjs.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  4. ^ "Staff « Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  5. ^ "About Us « Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  6. ^ "2016 Impact Report". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  7. ^ "Locations « Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  8. ^ "The Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management | Center for Nonprofit Advancement". www.nonprofitadvancement.org. Archived from the original on 2015-04-08. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  9. ^ "The Power of Many (SSIR)". www.ssireview.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  10. ^ "Staff « Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  11. ^ "Agnes Scott College - Layli Miller-Muro". www.agnesscott.edu. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  12. ^ "2015 State Young Mothers of the Year". American Mothers, Inc. Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  13. ^ "50 Powerful Women Religious Leaders To Celebrate International Women's Day". The Huffington Post. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  14. ^ "Noted advocate for immigrant women to receive honorary NIU doctorate at May 10 graduation". NIU Today. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  15. ^ "Newsweek and The Daily Beast Honor". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  16. ^ "Oprah and Jaycee Dugard honored at the DVF Awards". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  17. ^ "Layli Miller-Muro Wins 2012 Goldman Sachs Award « Tahirih Justice Center". www.tahirih.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  18. ^ "SmartCEO magazine - Required reading for growing companies". SmartCEO magazine - Required reading for growing companies. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
  19. ^ "Class Teaches Virtues to Children of Many Faiths". NPR.org. Retrieved 2016-02-18.
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