Kenneth Roth

Kenneth Roth was born on September 23, 1955, in Elmhurst, Illinois, to Muriel T. Roth and Walter S. Roth. His father was a Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany.{{Cite web|title=Tyranny Has a Witness|url=https://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/articles/2011-01-06/tyranny-has-a-witness|access-date=2021-04-26|website=www.brownalumnimagazine.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/yale-law-school-events/national-security-turbulent-world|title=National Security in a Turbulent World - Yale Law School|website=law.yale.edu|access-date=2019-05-29}}{{Cite news|date=2011-06-17|title=Annie Sparrow, Kenneth Roth (Published 2011)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/fashion/weddings/annie-sparrow-kenneth-roth-weddings.html|access-date=2021-02-19|issn=0362-4331}} Walter's family had a butchery in Germany near Frankfurt when Adolf Hitler came to power.

Kenneth Roth grew up in Deerfield, Illinois.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/26/world/americas/kenneth-roth-human-rights-watch.html |title=Kenneth Roth, 'Godfather' of Human Rights Work, to Step Down |last=Khan |first=Aina J. |date=April 26, 2022 |website=New York Times |access-date=18 September 2022 }} He graduated from Brown University in 1977 with a BA in history and received his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1980.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2004|title=Ken Roth Executive Director|url=http://hrw.org/about/bios/kroth.htm|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Human Rights Watch}}

On June 13, 2011, Roth was married in an Anglican church to Annie Sparrow.

File:Msc2012_20120205_004_Roth_SZwez.jpg

Roth worked in private practice as a litigator and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the United States Department of Justice for the Southern District of New York and the Iran-Contra investigation in Washington DC.{{cite web |title=Kenneth Roth Biography |url=https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/newsflash-050203-2 |date= |work=The University of Winnipeg |publisher= |access-date=September 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725002708/https://www.uwinnipeg.ca/index/newsflash-050203-2 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }} Roth's career in human rights began inauspiciously. The one human rights course offered at Yale Law School was repeatedly canceled, and upon graduation he found that jobs in the field were few. As a result, as he worked as a lawyer, and volunteered nights and weekends doing human rights work, focusing on{{Cite web|title=Human Rights Watch |website=socialsciences.in|url=http://socialsciences.in/article/human-rights-watch|access-date=2021-03-18}} the Soviet imposition of martial law in Poland in 1981.{{cite book|title = Repression Disguised as Law: Human Rights in Poland (9780934143158): Kenneth M. Roth: Books|date = 2009-09-09|isbn = 978-0934143158|last1 = Roth|first1 = Kenneth|last2 = Orentlicher|first2 = Diane|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/repressiondisgui00lawy}}

Roth joined Human Rights Watch (HRW) in 1987 as deputy director. His initial work centered on Haiti{{cite magazine|author=More by Kenneth Roth |url=http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1992/mar/26/haiti-the-shadows-of-terror/ |title=Haiti: The Shadows of Terror by Kenneth Roth |website=The New York Review of Books |publisher=Nybooks.com |date=1992-03-26 |access-date=2011-02-07}} and gradually extended to Cuba{{Cite web|title=INTRODUCTION TO THE WORK OF AMERICAS WATCH|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1989/WR89/Americas.htm|access-date=2021-03-18|website=hrw.org}} and the Middle East,{{Cite web|date=March 1992|title=Kuwait: Human Rights after February 28, 1991|url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/06/13/ALKWT92-001.pdf|website=justice.gov|access-date=March 18, 2021|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223092552/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/06/13/ALKWT92-001.pdf|url-status=dead}} among other places.

Since 1993 (when Aryeh Neier left to become head of George Soros's Open Society Institute), Roth became the executive director of HRW. While he was in the office, the HRW staff increased from 60 to 552; HRW shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for banning of anti-personnel mines, helped to establish International Criminal Court and ban children in the military. Roth resigned from HRW on 31 August 2022.{{cite news |url=https://softpower.ug/kenneth-roth-leaves-human-rights-watch-after-30-years-tirana-hassan-named-interim-executive-director/ |title=Kenneth Roth leaves Human Rights watch after 30 years, Tirana Hassan named Interim Executive Director |last=Atukunda |first=Roger |date=September 4, 2022 |newspaper=Softpower News |access-date=18 September 2022 }} After leaving HRW, Roth said he intended to write a book.

Roth received honorary degrees from Brown University,{{Cite web|title=Brown to confer 10 honorary doctorates May 29|url=https://news.brown.edu/articles/2011/04/honoraries|access-date=2021-03-18|website=News from Brown|publisher=Brown University|date=April 27, 2011}} Bowdoin College,{{Cite web|title=Honorary Degrees|url=https://www.bowdoin.edu/president/honorary-degrees/index.html|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Office of the President}} the University of Ottawa,{{Cite web|title=Roth, Kenneth|url=https://www.uottawa.ca/president/bio/roth-kenneth|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Office of the President}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and the American University of Paris.{{Cite web|date=2016-11-09|title=Honorary Degree Recipients|url=https://www.aup.edu/about/history/honorary-degree-recipients|access-date=2021-03-18|website=www.aup.edu}} He was a recipient of the Athens Democracy Award,{{Cite web|title=City of Athens Democracy Award|url=https://www.athensdemocracyforum.com/city-athens-democracy-award|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Athens Democracy Forum|archive-date=March 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302161504/https://www.athensdemocracyforum.com/city-athens-democracy-award|url-status=dead}} the William Rogers Award{{Cite web|title=The William Rogers Award|url=https://alumni-friends.brown.edu/volunteer/recognition/william-rogers-award|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Alumni & Friends, Brown University}} from Brown University and the Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award{{Cite web|title=Institute for Global Leadership, Tufts University 2004-05 Annual Report|url=https://www.tuftsgloballeadership.org/sites/default/files/images/resources/0405AR.pdf}} from Tufts University. He serves on the Watson Institute Board of Overseers{{Cite web|title=Board of Governors. Watson Institute|url=https://watson.brown.edu/people/board|access-date=2021-03-18|website=Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs}} at Brown University, the Board of Governors of Bard College Berlin,{{Cite web|title=Governance at Bard College Berlin|url=https://berlin.bard.edu/about-us/governance/ |access-date=2021-03-18|website=berlin.bard.edu}} and the Humanitarian and Development Advisory Panel of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.{{Cite web|title=Novo Nordisk Foundation establishes a new advisory panel for its humanitarian grants|url=https://novonordiskfonden.dk/en/news/novo-nordisk-foundation-establishes-a-new-advisory-panel-for-its-humanitarian-grants/ |access-date=2021-03-18 |website=Novo Nordisk Fonden }}

In 2021, Roth was offered a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. The offer was withdrawn in 2023. Roth said that the withdrawal was because of his criticism of Israel.{{cite news |title=Kenneth Roth had a Harvard fellowship offer. Was it rejected for his view on Israel?|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/18/1149719573/kenneth-roth-had-a-harvard-fellowship-offer-was-it-rejected-for-his-view-on-isra |access-date=18 January 2023 |work=npr |date=18 January 2023 |language=en}} Michael Massing reported Roth's claims in the Nation.{{Cite news |last=Massing |first=Michael |work=The Nation |date=2023-01-05 |title=Why the Godfather of Human Rights Is Not Welcome at Harvard |language=en-US |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/society/hrw-harvard-israel-kennedy-school/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |issn=0027-8378}} Roth told the Guardian and Amy Goodman on Democracy Now that he believed Harvard Kennedy School dean Douglas Elmendorf had capitulated to Harvard's donors who are strong supporters of Israel. Kennedy school professor Kathryn Sikkink said she was told that Elmendorf thought Human Rights Watch has an "anti-Israel bias" and that Roth’s tweets on Israel were concerning, points she disputed with the dean.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jan/06/harvard-kennedy-school-blocks-role-former-head-human-rights-watch-israel|title=Harvard blocks role for former Human Rights Watch head over Israel criticism|date=January 6, 2023|website=the Guardian}}{{Citation |title=Harvard Faces Outcry for Rescinding Post to Ex-Head of Human Rights Watch over Criticism of Israel | date=January 9, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1AYKz_42sc |language=en |access-date=2023-01-09}} Following Roth's complaint, the ACLU, Pen America, and other human rights activists condemned the Kennedy School's decision.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-08 |title=Harvard Kennedy School condemned for denying fellowship to Israel critic |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/08/kennedy-school-human-rights-watch |access-date=2023-01-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} On January 10, 2023, HRW published a letter to Harvard President Lawrence Bacow that said it was concerned about a "lasting impact on scholars and activists, particularly Palestinians, who should not have to fear professional repercussions from Harvard University or another institution if they write or speak critically about the Israeli government".{{Cite web|url=https://www.newarab.com/news/hrw-concerned-after-ex-director-loses-harvard-offer|title=HRW 'concerned' after ex-director loses Harvard offer|first=The New Arab|last=Staff|date=January 11, 2023|website=The New Arab}} Following those reports, hundreds of Harvard affiliates called on Elmendorf to resign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/1/11/hks-ken-roth-backlash/|title=Hundreds Call for Resignation of Harvard Kennedy School Dean Accused of Blocking Fellowship Over Israel Criticism | News | The Harvard Crimson|website=www.thecrimson.com}}

On January 19, 2023, The Kennedy School, which denies Roth's allegations,"Harvard Reinstates Offer to Ex-Human Rights Watch Chief After Israel Controversy." The Times of Israel | News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World, 19 Jan. 2023, www.timesofisrael.com/harvard-reinstates-offer-to-ex-human-rights-watch-chief-after-israel-controversy/.

reversed its decision, reoffering Roth the fellowship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/arts/harvard-israel-antisemitism-roth.html|title=Harvard Reverses Course on Human Rights Advocate Who Criticized Israel|first1=Jennifer|last1=Schuessler|first2=Marc|last2=Tracy|work=The New York Times |date=January 19, 2023|via=NYTimes.com}} Elmendorf said that his initial decision had been in "error" and was not intended "to limit debate at the Kennedy School about human rights in any country".{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/19/harvard-reverses-course-will-offer-former-hrw-chief-a-fellowship|title=Harvard reverses course, will offer former HRW chief a fellowship|author=Al Jazeera Staff|website=www.aljazeera.com}} Roth responded that Elmendorf failed to say anything to identify the people "who matter to him" who he said were behind his original veto decision. "Full transparency is key to ensuring that such influence is not exerted in other cases", Roth said, adding: "Secondly, I remain worried about academic freedom. Given my three decades leading Human Rights Watch, I was able to shine an intense spotlight on Dean Elmendorf’s decision, but what about others? The problem of people penalized for criticizing Israel is not limited to me."{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/jan/19/harvard-kenneth-roth-fellowship-israel-criticism|title=Harvard reverses decision on role for Israel critic after outcry|date=January 19, 2023|website=the Guardian}}

In the fall of 2023, Roth joined the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs as a lecturer and the Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-27 |title=Behind The Research: Kenneth Roth Champions Universal Human Rights |url=https://paw.princeton.edu/article/behind-research-kenneth-roth-champions-universal-human-rights |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Princeton Alumni Weekly |language=en}}

In 2014, the Egyptian government blocked Roth from entering the country.{{Cite web|date=2014-08-11|title=Egypt: Human Rights Watch Delegation Refused Entry|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/08/11/egypt-human-rights-watch-delegation-refused-entry|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} He was traveling to Egypt to release a report on its government's August 2013 Rabaa massacre{{Cite web|date=2014-08-12|title=All According to Plan|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/08/12/all-according-plan/raba-massacre-and-mass-killings-protesters-egypt|access-date=2021-04-01|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} of 817 sit-in protesters.{{Cite news|date=2014-08-12|title=Egyptian security forces 'planned massacre,' says HRW|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28746899|access-date=2021-04-01}}

In December 2019, China announced unspecified sanctions against HRW and several other NGOs because of links to the Hong Kong democracy movement.{{Cite news|last=Shih|first=Gerry|title=China announces sanctions against U.S.-based nonprofit groups in response to Congress's Hong Kong legislation|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/china-announces-sanctions-against-us-based-nonprofits-in-response-to-congresss-hong-kong-legislation/2019/12/02/9f414616-14e0-11ea-80d6-d0ca7007273f_story.html|access-date=2021-03-29|issn=0190-8286}} In January 2020, Roth said that he was denied entry to Hong Kong.{{Cite news|last1=Vigdor|first1=Neil|last2=Ramzy|first2=Austin|date=2020-01-13|title=Hong Kong Denies Entry to Human Rights Watch Director, Group Says|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/12/world/asia/kenneth-roth-hong-kong.html|access-date=2021-03-29|issn=0362-4331}} He was planning to launch the organization's World Report,{{Cite web|date=2019-11-25|title=World Report 2020|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} which had an essay saying China is a growing threat to human rights around the world.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-03|title=World Report 2020: Rights Trends in China's Global Threat to Human Rights|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020/country-chapters/global|access-date=2021-03-29|website=Human Rights Watch|language=en}} Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, told reporters he would not read the report, accusing Human Rights Watch of distorting the truth and claiming China's human rights situation is “the best it's been in history.”{{Cite news|author= |date=2020-01-15|title=Human Rights Watch report blasts China as its chief barred from Hong Kong|language=en|work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-humanrightswatch-report-idUSKBN1ZD2LV|access-date=2021-03-29}} In August 2020, the Chinese government announced that it had imposed unspecified “sanctions” on Roth.{{Cite news|date=2020-08-10|title=China Hits U.S. Officials With Sanctions, Avoids Top Trump Aides|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-10/china-to-sanction-u-s-officials-in-retaliation-over-hong-kong|access-date=2021-03-29}}

{{Reflist}}

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504073030/http://china.hrw.org/profile/kenneth_roth Official HRW Biography of Kenneth Roth]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130430171301/http://www.sandiego.edu/peacestudies/institutes/ipj/programs/distinguished_lecture_series/biographies/kenneth_roth.php Lecture transcript and video of Roth's speech at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego, September 2007]
• {{C-SPAN|836}}

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Category:1955 births

Category:Living people

Category:American human rights activists

Category:American individuals subject to Chinese sanctions

Category:American lawyers

Category:American people of German-Jewish descent

Category:Brown University alumni

Category:Human Rights Watch people

Category:People from Elmhurst, Illinois

Category:Yale Law School alumni