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Magdalena Szarota

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Dr. Magda(lena) Szarota is a Senior Researcher at Lancaster University (UK),  an award-winning disability, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), public policy, and cross-sectional strategist, consultant, campaigner, public speaker, and NGO executive with over 15 years of experience  in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. She is considered one of the pioneers of the disabled women’s movement in post-socialist Poland. Dr. Szarota has collaborated with leading human rights think tanks, watchdogs, grassroots organizations, and (co)created cross-sectoral projects involving academia, business, NGOs, and the arts. She has also been engaged in effective policy-related advocacy and expert interventions in the European Union and the United Nations.

Dr. Szarota has (co)authored books, reports, and change-making tools and has (co)led research and advocacy projects on technologies for innovative social change, impact, and outreach. She received merit-based and highly competitive scholarships & advocacy fellowships from Yale University, the Kosciuszko Foundation, the Ashoka Foundation, and the Allianz Foundation among others. In 2019, she was honored with the title of Ambassador for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) in recognition of her impactful contributions in the realm of disability and intersectional justice. Dr Szarota is a co-creator of the UprzedźUprzedzenia/PreemptPrejudice evidence-based initiative, winner of the 2024 Internauts Award in the Forum of Responsible Business Charter Award Competition (Nagroda Karty Różnorodności Forum Odpowiedzialnego Biznesu) for innovative work in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Her academic and advocacy work has gained media attention in English, French, Polish, Czech, and Nepalese.

Ombudsperson

Humanity in Action is committed to providing an open, respectful, and safe environment for its Fellows, Senior Fellows, Program Interns, Staff, Board Members, speakers, partners, and others involved in its programs. Magda Szarota is our Ombudsperson, our designated point of contact to serve members of the Humanity in Action network, including the Fellows of this program, who experience abusive, racist, sexist, homophobic, or other forms of discriminatory behavior that emanate from other members of the network.

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Updated April 2024

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