An Indian-American woman lawyer on Thursday was appointed as a Commissioner to the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
Arunima Bhargava, a civil rights lawyer is born and raised in Chicago and is currently the founder and president of the Anthem of Us, which describes itself as “a strategic advisory firm that works with educational institutions and corporations to promote dignity and justice for all”.
The USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom overseas.
She has an substantial experience in various roles advocating for members of under-represented communities, including at the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF).
Currently, the USCIRF is headed by Tibetan-American Tenzin Dorjee. Dorjee commended House Leader Nancy Pelosi for appointing Bhargava as a USCIRF Commissioner.
“With an impressive background and a demonstrated commitment to advocating for members of minority communities in the United States and abroad, Anurima Bhargava brings an important new perspective that will enhance the work of the Commission, especially on democratic India, with whom the United States has a long and proud relationship,” he said.
In addition to her work at the Department of Justice and the LDF, Bhargava served as a fellow at the Open Society Foundations and at the Harvard University.
Prior to attending law school, Bhargava worked in India assisting women elected to local government. She has been a member of the Truman National Security Project and the Council on Foreign Relations.
-Sowmya
