Gay McDougall facts for kids

Gay Johnson McDougall (born August 13, 1947, in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American lawyer. She has spent her whole career working on international human rights and fighting against racial discrimination. She is currently a special scholar at the Leitner Center on International Law and Justice at Fordham University Law School. From 1994 to 2006, she was the leader of an organization called Global Rights, Partners for Justice. In 2005, she became the first United Nations Independent Expert on Minority Issues. This important role meant she helped protect the rights of minority groups around the world until 2011.

Early Life

Gay Johnson McDougall was born on August 13, 1947. Her parents were Louis and Inez Gay Johnson. Her father worked as a cook at a hospital. Her mother was a high school math teacher. Gay grew up in the Dixie Hills area of Atlanta. She went to public schools in Atlanta. In 1965, she graduated from Booker T. Washington High School.

When Gay was a child, many public places in Atlanta did not allow black people. After high school, she was chosen to be the first black student to attend Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Looking back, she said that people at the time felt their situation was very sad. They hoped the world outside their country had fairer rules.

Education and Career

After two years at Agnes Scott College, Gay transferred to Bennington College in Vermont. She earned her bachelor's degree in social science from Bennington. She then studied law at Yale Law School. Later, she earned another law degree from the London School of Economics and Politics. This degree focused on international law.

After finishing law school at Yale, she worked at a corporate law firm in New York City.

Fighting for Human Rights

Gay Johnson McDougall has dedicated her career to human rights. She has worked with many important organizations.

Working with the United Nations

In 1998, Gay was chosen to be an expert for the United Nations. She joined a group that checks if countries are following the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). This treaty is about stopping racial discrimination. She was the first American to be part of this group of 18 international experts. She served from 1998 to 2001. She was chosen again in 2015 and served until 2020. She also helped lead the committee as a vice-chairperson.

In 1999, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights also chose her. She became a member of a special group that works on preventing discrimination and protecting minorities.

Helping South Africa

Before joining Global Rights, Gay played a big role in South Africa. She was one of five international members on a special commission. This commission organized South Africa's first elections where people of all races could vote. This was a huge step for the country.

During the time of apartheid in southern Africa, Gay was a director for the Southern African Project. This was part of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. From 1980 to 1994, she helped thousands of political prisoners in South Africa and Namibia. She helped pay for their legal defense and worked with their lawyers.

Supporting Namibia's Independence

In 1989, Gay McDougall started the Commission on Independence for Namibia. This group had 31 important Americans. They watched closely as Namibia worked towards its independence, as ordered by the U.N. The Commission helped change important laws, like those for voter registration and elections. This made sure the elections were fair.

Awards and Recognition

Gay McDougall has received many awards for her work.

In 1999, she received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship. This award is given to people who show great talent and originality. She was honored for her "innovative and highly effective" work for international human rights.

She has also received special Doctor of Law degrees from several universities. These include Georgetown University Law Center, the University of Witwatersrand (South Africa), Agnes Scott College, and Boston University.

In 1990, Gay McDougall received a Candace Award. This award came from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Other Important Roles

• Member of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• Board Member of Africare
• Board Member of CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere)
• Board Member of the Global Fund for Women
• Advisory Council for Realizing Rights
• Executive Council for the American Society of International Law
• Distinguished Scholar in Residence at American University's College of Law Faculty
• Visiting Scholar at American University Washington College of Law Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
• Mulligan Distinguished Visiting Professor of International Law and Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at the Leitner Center for International Law and Justice, Fordham University School of Law
• Board member of the Open Society Justice Initiative of the Open Society Foundations