Claudia Zygmunt – Claudia is a native of Poland who holds both law and international human rights degrees. She has over five years of progressive experience at the international level in monitoring and reporting human rights violations – most recently holding a position with Human Rights Watch as a research and advocacy consultant on women’s & LGBT rights in addition to working at the British Embassy in Warsaw as a human rights officer. She has lived and traveled extensively in SE Asia.

City/Country of origin: Rome, Italy/Krosno, Poland

Languages spoken: English, Polish, Italian

University degree(s) and any honors received: Central European University in Vienna, Austria – LL.M in Human Rights (Valedictorian, Excellence Student Award for the highest GPA 3.96/4.0, graduated with distinction), Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland - Master of Law (four-times scholarship recipient for Best Students Award, graduated with honors), Student exchange at Tel Aviv University, Israel - International law (Erasmus+ Program), CEU-Leiden Praesidium Libertatis Scholarship to study at Leiden University, the Netherlands – Advanced LL.M. International and European Human Rights.

Top Professional Experiences/Achievements

1. In 2021, I launched and led the nationwide female empowerment initiative "16 Leaders of Equality" in Poland. The project recognizes and supports female change-makers from Poland's sixteen regions, paying particular attention to women in rural and small-town areas. The initiative concluded its third edition in March. My work on this project, combined with my broader efforts on gender equality, earned me a spot on Forbes Women Poland's list of 23 Women to Watch in 2023.

2. As a research consultant at Human Rights Watch, I conducted in-depth research on women's rights violations and the erosion of the rule of law in Poland. My findings were used to advocate for the liberalization of Poland's restrictive abortion laws and to push for greater protections for LGBT+ individuals.

3. While working as a program coordinator at the humanitarian mission in Ukraine, I oversaw the implementation of several projects supporting the conflict-affected population in Donbass. These initiatives provided essential aid to mine victims, particularly children, and to internally displaced persons who lost their homes due to Russia's military actions.

4. At the British Embassy, I was responsible for the logistics and protocol associated with high-level political visits to Poland. This role allowed me to work closely on visits from notable figures such as Prince William, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

5. I was recently selected to join the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Pool of Young Experts – a group of young professionals from the OSCE member states whose expertise can contribute to the OSCE’s work across the three dimensions of security and accelerate the OSCE Youth and Security Agenda in the region.

What motivated you to apply for the Lantos Fellows Program?

Inspired by Congressman Lantos' life story and his dedication to the region I was raised in, I believe that the Lantos Fellowship provides me with an enormous chance to improve and grow as a human rights defender and channel my knowledge and experience toward a positive change in the world while learning from the best.

What unique experiences and perspectives do you hope to bring to the congressional office where you will be working?

I aim to contribute to the congressional office with my background in human rights, rule of law, and foreign affairs in Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine. I will bring a European perspective, offering insights into various political issues through a social justice lens.

If you could have dinner with any human rights figure (living or deceased), who would it be? What would you talk about or what would you ask them?

I would love to meet with Gloria Steinem, whose pioneering work in women's rights has been a profound inspiration to me and many others. I would ask Gloria whether she envisioned becoming a leader of second-wave feminism at my age and seek her advice on how young women’s rights defenders can navigate their path and make a meaningful impact

If this will be your first time living in DC/the United States, what are you most excited about?

I am excited to be in Washington, DC, during the historic presidential election in November. I’ve already had the opportunity to attend one of DC’s Debate Watch Parties, which made me feel like a part of the country's crucial political development.

Tom Lantos always believed that human rights should transcend partisan politics. Do you believe this is still possible, even in a political climate with such deep partisan divisions? If so, how do you believe we can bring people together over key human rights issues?

I firmly believe that bipartisan consensus on human rights is both possible and essential. Often, societies are more progressive than their political leaders. We should invest in educating younger generations about the importance of human rights, embracing diversity, and standing up for the vulnerable, which will contribute to building more inclusive and forward-thinking communities.

Named after Tom Lantos, who initially arrived in the United States on a scholarship and later became a professor, the Lantos Congressional Fellows program honors his deep-seated belief in the power of education and the value of life-long learning.

Lantos Fellows are carefully chosen from a select group of post-college and post-graduate level students from Europe and Israel. Through fellowships hosted by U.S. congressional offices, they have the opportunity to work in the United States and gain a better understanding of the role of human rights in American politics and the legislative process.

More than 100 fellows have participated in the program from countries including Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Nearly 50 congressional offices have hosted Lantos Fellows, and the program is fully bipartisan – both Republican and Democratic offices host Lantos Fellows.