Raya Barazanji
Raya Barazanji is an Iraqi-American who immigrated to the US in 1990. She has
over 20 years experience working in the non-profit and international organizations
sector.  She currently works as a Senior Program Officer at the U.S. Institute of
Peace where she manages a portfolio of grants to civil society organizations
working on peace-building projects in conflicts zones worldwide. Prior to that she
served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Iraq Foundation, a non-profit
organization working to advance and support democracy and human rights in Iraq.
 In that capacity, she led the organization's teams in implementing projects in Iraq
that focused on democracy, human rights, civil society strengthening and the
revitalization of the Iraqi education and school systems. Additionally, she managed
a community organization and integration program designated to help Iraqi
refugees resettle in the U.S during the nineties.

As an avid advocate for women's rights, Raya is a member of several international
women's advocacy organizations and works earnestly to promote the rights of
women and children in Iraq.

Raya holds a Masters degree in International Law and Diplomacy and a Bachelors
degree in Translation.
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