Hannah Pierce-Carty

Hannah Pierce-Carty is an international human rights professional bringing a human rights-based approach to advancing equity and sustainable development worldwide. She currently serves as Director of International Policy and Advocacy for Perseus Strategies, an international human rights law firm based in Washington, D.C., where she leads advocacy efforts across the United Nations system. In this role, she partners with UN stakeholders, governments, and civil society to promote criminal justice reform and advocate for individuals arbitrarily detained around the world.

Her work focuses on building coalitions and navigating multilateral spaces to move human rights priorities forward. She has contributed to drafting a UN Human Rights Council resolution adopted by consensus, drafted and coordinated a joint statement supported by over 70 Member States, and built a global network of civil society organizations to elevate social reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals as a matter of human rights in the UN. Through these experiences, she has gained insight into how global norms are shaped, negotiated, and implemented in practice, and how evidence-based advocacy can advance systemic change.

Before joining Perseus Strategies, she worked as a Medicaid case manager with her local government, coordinating services for low-income individuals with physical and mental disabilities. She also mentored incarcerated youth in Detroit, supporting their preparation for reentry. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Michigan, where she graduated with high distinction in 2020. Outside of her professional work, Hannah is involved in the World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers Community, where she collaborates with peers from around the world on local and global initiatives.

Hannah is motivated by a long-standing commitment to public service and an interest in better connecting human rights principles with effective development policy. She is pursuing a Master’s in Global Human Development to strengthen her ability to address the systemic and structural challenges that underlie human rights violations. The program’s interdisciplinary focus will equip her with technical tools to design evidence-based policies and programs that can promote both human rights and sustainable development.

Originally from Michigan and now based in Colorado, she enjoys going to farmers’ markets with her dog Cedar and spending time outdoors, especially rock climbing and backpacking.