A Special International Women’s Day Edition, with special guest, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz

Law has been a vehicle for liberating people – and for oppressing them. Iranian student leader T. (who prefers to remain anonymous) discovered this reality the hard way following the 2009 protests over disputed presidential elections. Charged with “acting against national security,” she was held in solitary confinement inside Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison. While released on bail, she escaped Iran and is now a student here in Boston, studying international human rights law. She has in absentia been sentenced – without trial – to eight years in prison and 148 lashes for “immoral” behavior.

In contrast, special guest Carmen Ortiz will share insights from her own career, reflecting a completely different experience than T’s harrowing life in Iran. Recently named “Bostonian of the Year” by The Boston Globe, U.S. Attorney Ortiz is responsible for ensuring that our legal system protects against discrimination and persecution. The daughter of immigrant parents who spoke little English, Ortiz has overcome many obstacles in her rise to legal prominence, including raising her younger sister while completing law school, and losing her first husband to cancer. She will discuss the priorities of a federal prosecutor and the importance of working toward a just and law-abiding future.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we are honored to host these remarkable women. This event is co-sponsored by Oiste. RSVP to reserve seats via events@aicongress.org or 617-266-0080.