Anya Neistat
Anya (Anna) Neistat is a well-known human rights lawyer and investigator with over two decades of experience documenting and exposing abuses in some of the world’s most perilous conflict zones. Her work has been pivotal in shaping international responses to human rights violations.
Neistat is the co-founder and President of InterJust, an independent non-governmental organization that advances accountability for atrocity crimes by combining survivor-centered litigation and global legal initiatives.
Previously, Neistat lead The Docket – an initiative at the Clooney Foundation for Justice, focused on accountability for perpetrators and enablers of international crimes.
Before joining CFJ, she was Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, responsible for leading the organization’s global research agenda and crisis response.
Neistat also worked as associate director for Program and Emergencies at Human Rights Watch. She led fact-finding missions in conflict areas and was responsible for developing investigative methodology and training. Neistat has conducted over 60 investigations in conflict areas around the world, including Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Kenya, Yemen, Chechnya, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.
Neistat was the Chair of the Board at Crisis Action, an international organization working with global civil society to protect civilians from armed conflict. She holds an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School, a J.D. and Ph.D. in law, and an M.S. in history and philology. She has authored numerous reports and opinion pieces, and regularly contributes to legal and human rights debates in academic and policy institutions. Neistat’s work has been profiled in the media and in the award-winning documentaries, E-team and The Cranes Call.
