Democracy in Dialogue Series

What Comes Next for Human Rights?

Paul O'Brien
Mon
Mar
30
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Date
Monday, March 30, 2026
Time
5:00pm - 6:30pm US Eastern Time
Event Location
Hesburgh Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556
United States
Event Type
Democracy in Dialogue Series
The Democracy in Dialogue Series enables Notre Dame students to engage with expert guest speakers on pressing key issues facing global democracy. These monthly discussions aim to help students develop as global citizens and comparative scholars, explore threats to democracy, learn from international examples, consider actions to defend democracy, examine Catholic perspectives, and discuss overcoming polarization. The series also helps students build professional networks in international politics.

Paul O'Brien
Executive Director, Amnesty International USA

This talk will analyze the downward trend in human rights, civic space and rule of law in the world, as well as discuss how pro-rights activists can focus on rebuilding an international legal system that can protect human rights.

Paul O’Brien is the Executive Director at Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), a role he has held since April 2021, overseeing 240,000 members and 125 staff. With a career spanning human rights research and advocacy in over 50 countries—including 10 years in Africa and 5 years in Afghanistan—Paul has deep international experience. Before AIUSA, he co-led Oxfam’s worldwide advocacy efforts and previously served as an advisor to the President of Afghanistan. He holds a JD from Harvard Law School.