ROQIA SAMIM
Denver,CO
Summary
Experienced lawyer with over 9 years in legal research, analysis, drafting, negotiation, and project management. Skilled in engaging with international organizations and diverse communities in complex environments. Led research initiatives, published influential reports, and secured funding for human rights programs.
Overview
3
3
Languages
1
1
Certification
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Program Director, Research & Policy
Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights
04.2024 - 07.2025
- Led strategic direction for Migration Research Initiative, establishing academic partnerships to inform and shape policy initiatives.
- Led Migration Graduate Working Group, enabling graduate students to conduct impactful research on migration issues.
- Conducted in-depth research on migration and human rights, synthesizing data to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
Human Rights Research Fellow
Notre Dame Law School
03.2023 - 04.2024
- Conducted research across diverse human rights domains, influencing policy discussions on climate change, women's rights, and Taliban rule.
- Published a policy brief on the Status of Afghan Women Under the Taliban Rule.
- Conducted research on diverse human rights domains, including climate change, human rights, women’s rights, and Taliban rule.
- Assisted in legal research for amicus briefs and expert opinions, contributing to human rights fact-finding efforts.
- Developed relationships with external agencies and identified funding sources, leading to successful grant proposals.
- The University of Notre Dame
- Senior Research Associate
Human Rights Assistant
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
Herat, Afghanistan
06.2021 - 08.2021
- Engaged local authorities, civil society, and elders to promote women's inclusion in decision-making processes.
- Met with local authorities, civil society, and elders to raise awareness about inclusion of women in decision-making processes.
- Developed proposals for outreach activities, emphasizing capacity building for women and local interlocutors in the region.
- Monitored detention centers, and interviewed detainees regarding their fundamental human rights and violation of those rights.
- Recorded and analyzed complaints of alleged human rights violations while managing case-related information for effective resolution.
- Contributed to drafting UNAMA’s Annual Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Western Region, highlighting key findings and recommendations.
- Herat Field Office
- Associate Officer of Political Affairs
- May 2019 – May 2021
Project Provincial Coordinator
USAID-Promote Project, Women Leadership Development (WLD)
Herat, Afghanistan
06.2018 - 05.2019
- Led a team of 12 course facilitators, ensuring effective training sessions for participants of the program.
- Delivered detailed reports highlighting young women’s development and achievements in WLD program.
- Coordinated administration and logistics for classes, facilitating meetings between young participants and local authorities to enhance program engagement.
- Trained 1,000 young women and girls in leadership, negotiation, and public speaking skills, empowering them through WLD program in Herat.
- Herat, Afghanistan
Trainer and Civil Society Activist
Herat Citizens Social Association
Herat, Afghanistan
02.2015 - 01.2017
- Facilitated trainings and legal programs for youth on constitutional rights, enhancing awareness and understanding of legal protections.
- Led advocacy programs for women’s rights and gender equality, directly supporting implementation of the 2009 Law on Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW).
- Herat, Afghanistan
Education
LL.M. - International Business Transactions (IBT)
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
Denver, CO05-2026
LL.M. - International Human Rights Law
University of Notre Dame, Law School
South Bend, IN05-2022
Bachelor’s Degree in Law & Political Science - Law & Political Science
Herat University
Herat, Afghanistan12-2014
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP) — Project Management Institute (PMI) — September 2024
- Human, and Social & Behavioral Research — Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) — December 2023
Languages
Dari (Persian) – Native
English - Fluent
Arabic - Good
Timeline
Program Director, Research & Policy
Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights
04.2024 - 07.2025
Human Rights Research Fellow
Notre Dame Law School
03.2023 - 04.2024
Human Rights Assistant
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
06.2021 - 08.2021
Project Provincial Coordinator
USAID-Promote Project, Women Leadership Development (WLD)
06.2018 - 05.2019
Trainer and Civil Society Activist
Herat Citizens Social Association
02.2015 - 01.2017
LL.M. - International Human Rights Law
University of Notre Dame, Law School
LL.M. - International Business Transactions (IBT)
University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
Bachelor’s Degree in Law & Political Science - Law & Political Science
Herat University
TRAINING & SEMINARS
- United States Institute of Peace — Introduction to Peacebuilding and Gender Inclusivity in Peacebuilding. — December 2020
- USAID — Training on Gender Justice, Comparative Women's Rights and Violence Against Women. — May 2014
- International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) — Training on International Humanitarian Law (IHL). — October 2014
- Global Rights Partners for Justice — Training on Criminal and Civil law, internship in the Herat Primary Court. — June- Dec 2014
PUBLICATIONS
- Authored article on “International Legal Mechanisms to Safeguard Women’s Rights: An Analysis of Afghan Women’s Rights Under Taliban Rule” — Online Yale Journal of International Law — February 2025
- Authored a policy brief on “The State of Women’s Rights and Freedoms after the Taliban Take-Over: Afghan Women Face the Worst Human and Women’s Rights Crisis in the World” — Notre Dame Law School — September 2022
- Co-authored the article “Afghan Women’s Rights as Taliban’s Bargaining Tool for International Recognition” — featured by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders — January 2023