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W&L Lecture on Defending Human Rights in Central Asia on March 5

Bermet Zhumakadyr kyzy of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, will give a lecture at Washington and Lee University on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in Leyburn Library’s Northen Auditorium.

The title of the lecture, which is free and open to the public, is titled “Working to Defend Human Rights in Central Asia.”

Ms. Zhumakadyr kyzy’s talk will focus on ways that Human Rights Watch aims to promote freedom of expression, protect women’s rights and diminish ethnic conflicts as part of its mission in Central Asia.

Zhumakadyr kyzy studied at W&L in 2010-2011 under the auspices of the John M. Gunn International Scholarship.  The following year, she returned to Bishkek and graduated as valedictorian of the American University of Central Asia.

Last fall, she was hired as a staff member of the new office that the independent monitoring organization Human Rights Watch opened in Bishkek.  This office is the only presence that Human Rights Watch maintains in Central Asia.

Zhumakadyr kyzy’s talk is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Center for International Education.  For further information, contact Professor Richard Bidlack at 458-8912.