Elizabeth Calvin

Human Rights Watch

Since 1995, Ms. Calvin has fought for the rights of children caught up in the juvenile justice and foster care systems, as well those denied their education rights. As a senior advocate at Human Rights Watch, she focuses on the rights of children in California, with a specific emphasis on children and youth in foster care and the criminal justice systems. Her work includes research and writing on human rights violations against children, policy and legal advocacy, and building partnerships with community groups. She is an author of three Human Rights Watch reports on juveniles serving life without parole, and works closely with a national campaign to end the use of extreme prison sentences for youth. In 2012, her leadership of a coalition-based effort resulted in the reform of California’s use of life without parole sentences for youth. She has also written on foster care and homelessness, and works closely with youth, faith groups, family members of youth sentenced to life in prison, crime victims, incarcerated individuals, advocates, and activists for youth rights.