Cristina M. Finch currently serves as the head of the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department at ODIHR/OSCE. Prior to joining the OSCE, she was the managing director of the Identity and Discrimination Unit at Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) and an adjunct law professor at George Mason University School of Law. At AIUSA, Ms. Finch focused on women’s and LGBT human rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and multilateral issues. Prior to joining AIUSA in October 2009, she served as senior counsel to the Human Rights Campaign where she focused on the issue of hate crime. Before HRC, she served as legislative counsel to Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL); as house legal counsel to the National Congress of the Republic of Palau; and as a litigation associate practicing contract and tort law at a law firm focusing on civil claims. She has lectured on legal and policy issues before the UN Human Rights Council, U.S. Congress, and World Bank, and is a featured expert at the Women’s Media Center SheSource. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Finch worked for Rep. Jim Barcia (D-MI). She holds a JD from George Mason University, and a BA from the University of Michigan.
I have extensive media and conference experience. In the media, I have been a frequent commentator on human rights and foreign policy issues such as women’s rights, international law and torture, appearing on Al Jazeera, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC’s “Melissa Harris-Perry Show”, PBS’s “To the Contrary”, National Public Radio, and Radio Jamaica. I am a listed expert on SheSource and have been quoted in the Associated Press, BuzzFeed, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, New York Times, Reuters, and CQ Global Researcher. I have spoken at myriad international conferences held by a wide range of conveners from the EC, European Parliament, U.S. Congress, OSCE and NGOs.