[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 6 (Monday, January 13, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E18-E19]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING ROBIN PHILIPS' RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 13, 2025

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Ms. 
Robin Philips, for her lifelong commitment to defending women and 
girls' rights at home and abroad, and to congratulate her on her 
retirement. In 1995, Ms. Philips joined the Minnesota Advocates for 
Human Rights, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing 
domestic violence and other human right issues. She went on to found 
the Women's Human Rights Program that has made The Advocates, as it is 
known, a global leader on women's rights.
  In 2002, Ms. Philips became the Executive Director of The Advocates. 
Under her leadership, Ms. Philips recruited thousands of volunteers to 
contribute their time and talent to providing legal services, outreach 
efforts, fact-finding, and operational support, strengthening not only 
the organization but the whole human rights movement. By keeping The 
Advocates' work primarily volunteer-driven, the organization was able 
to leverage $156,300,282 (approximately $7 million/year) worth of in-
kind legal services over the past 22 years. Through it all, The 
Advocates has provided pro bono legal counsel to more than 7,000 
victims of persecution, torture, trafficking, prolonged detention, and 
family violence in the Upper Midwest Region.
  One shining example of Ms. Philips' accomplishments includes a report 
issued by The Advocates in 2008. The report laid the foundation for 
Minnesota's Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Youth Act, transforming 
the state's approach to addressing sex trafficking by prioritizing the 
protection and support of victims and those at risk.
  Under Ms Philips' leadership, The Advocates led many high-profile 
transitional projects in Peru, Siena Leone, and Liberia, which 
highlighted the dire need for human rights advocacy in post-conflict 
healing and reconciliation processes. At the request of the Liberian 
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), The Advocates led the 
Liberian TRC Diaspora Project by documenting the human rights abuses 
experienced by the thousands of Liberians who were arrested, tortured, 
abused and forced to leave the country after prolonged civil war during 
the 1990's. Under her leadership, The Advocates recruited over 600 
volunteers to provide more than $10 million in pro bono services to the 
Liberian TRC. As a result, The Advocates documented statements, stories 
and testimonials from more than 1,600 Liberian individuals and 
witnesses in the US, UK and Ghana. Through the Liberian TRC Diaspora 
Project, The Advocates held the first public hearings of a national 
truth commission in St. Paul in June 2008. Today, Liberia is 
implementing several of the recommendations made in the report, most 
notably by establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court.

[[Page E19]]

  Ms. Philips' tireless efforts working with partners and advocates 
around the world to abolish the death penalty and to defend and protect 
the LGBTQI community is commendable. Finally, her commitment to 
building schools and providing education to young people in Nepal from 
Pre-K through 10th grade by serving more than 1,000 low-income Nepali 
students today exemplifies the spirit of American ingenuity and being a 
great Samaritan. Above all, Ms. Philips is a trailblazing leader and a 
human rights champion.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in this well-deserved tribute to Robin 
Philips on her retirement after nearly three decades of defending human 
rights at home and abroad.

                          ____________________