Robert Destro

Robert A. Destro is an American attorney, academic, and government official, currently serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. He previously served on the United States Commission on Civil Rights from 1983 to 1989 and as a professor of law at The Catholic University of America.[1][2]

Robert A. Destro
United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues
In office
October 14, 2020 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded bySarah Sewall (2017)
Succeeded byVacant
Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
In office
September 23, 2019 – January 20, 2021
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byTom Malinowski
Succeeded byLisa Peterson (acting)
Member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights
In office
1983–1989
Personal details
EducationMiami University (BA)
UC Berkeley School of Law (JD)

In October 2020, he also became the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.[3]

Education

Destro earned a B.A. from Miami University in Ohio, and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.[1]

Career

Destro was a professor of law at the Columbus School of Law and director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, both at The Catholic University of America.[1][2] He taught at Catholic University since 1982 and served as an Interim Dean from 1999 to 2001.[1] He also founded the Interdisciplinary Program in Law & Religion at Catholic University.[2]

Destro is a human rights advocate and a civil rights attorney with expertise in elections and employment law.[1] His legal work includes collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo in a fifteen-year dialogue among Muslim, Christian, and Jewish legal, business, and religious leaders in the United States and the Middle East and efforts promoting the release of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in the Middle East.[1]

As a U.S. civil rights commissioner from 1983 to 1989, Destro focused on disability-, national origin-, and religious-based discrimination.[2] From 1977 to 1982, he also served as General Counsel to the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.[2] He was also special counsel to the Ohio Attorney General and the Ohio Secretary of State on election law matters from 2004 to 2006.[2][1]

In September 2019, Destro became the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. In October 2020, he was appointed the as the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, a role that "will lead U.S. efforts to promote dialogue between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Dalai Lama or his representatives; protect the unique religious, cultural, and linguistic identity of Tibetans; and press for their human rights to be respected."[3]

References
  1. "President Donald J. Trump Announces His Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts". The White House. June 20, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Rasmussen, Renee (October 3, 2019). "Catholic Law Professor Confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor". The Tower. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  3. "Designation of a United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues". U.S Department of State. October 14, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
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