WASHINGTON, February 19, 2025 – The U.S. Office of Panzi Foundation is proud to announce that Ms. Brahmy Poologasingham has joined its Board of Directors, effective January 12, 2026. A prominent human rights lawyer, Ms. Poologasingham has dedicated her career to advancing truth, justice, and accountability for vulnerable communities, particularly survivors of sexual violence.
Ms. Poologasingham brings more than two decades of experience in foreign policy, humanitarian assistance, and peacebuilding, with a focus on transitional justice and atrocity prevention. Most recently, she served as a Foreign Affairs and National Security staffer (Brookings Fellow) in the office of Congressman Jamie Raskin in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Since 2009, she has worked closely with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, developing a deep understanding of the importance of survivor-centered, holistic care, from reproductive health services to psychosocial support and legal assistance.
Previously, Ms. Poologasingham spent 11 years leading the Transitional Justice and Accountability portfolio at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). There, she advanced accountability and rule of law efforts in complex post-conflict settings across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, including extensive engagement in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her work strengthened institutional responses to mass atrocities and supported long-term reconciliation and durable peace.
She has also held senior leadership roles at the Eastern Congo Initiative and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), and earlier in her career contributed to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
A recognized expert on gender and conflict-related sexual violence, Ms. Poologasingham has led global initiatives advancing survivor-centered justice, including the Dignity in Documentation Initiative (DIDI), and has supported implementation of the Murad Code and the Red Line Initiative.
“We are honored to have Brahmy join us in our efforts to end rape as a weapon of war, and to expand peace and justice in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Panzi’s founder and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Denis Mukwege. “Brahmy and I have worked together since 2009, and her unwavering commitment to women and children is evident throughout her human rights career. We look forward to partnering with her to expand access to holistic care and raise awareness about the root causes of sexual violence in conflict.”
“Dr. Mukwege and the staff at Panzi have shown us that true healing begins with rights: survivors of conflict related sexual violence must lead, their voices must be heard, and justice must be non-negotiable,” says Ms. Poologasingham.
“I am deeply honored to join the Panzi Board, and I am committed to supporting Congolese survivors’ rights, amplifying their voices, and ensuring justice guides every step of their healing.”
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About Panzi Foundation
Panzi Hospital and Foundation provides survivors of sexual violence with access to compassionate, holistic care in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At Panzi, survivors receive comprehensive health services, psychosocial support, job-skills training and socio-economic reintegration opportunities, as well as access to legal services. Since 1999, Panzi has served over 87,000 survivors across the country, empowering them to not only survive, but to thrive as they rebuild their lives.
