Anne Basham has worked in both the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government as well as the private sector. Focused primarily on human rights issues such as human trafficking, domestic violence, child welfare, religious freedom and education, Anne has crafted legislation, policies, and appropriations requests to serve and protect the most vulnerable. Dedicating her personal and professional life to stopping human trafficking, violence against women, and child abuse, Anne has helped people throughout the world safely leave difficult situations, navigate the legal system, and secure safe housing and restorative care. She is also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Human Rights Advocacy from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences which educates over 30,000 students annually from the most impoverished indigenous populations of India.
During her service as the Senior Advisor for the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), she developed strategies for over $2 billion in federal funding and other projects directed to nonprofit organizations serving victims of human trafficking, terrorism, sexual assault, and child welfare. She also helped allocate over $100 million in federal funding for victims of human trafficking in the United States, the largest amount ever directed to this cause. While in this role she traveled throughout the United States meeting with senior government officials and NGO leaders about solutions to human trafficking and other human rights issues. Additionally, she frequently advised on Congressional legislation and federal policies impacting victims of crime.
She is also the Founder and Chair of the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking where she leads a coalition of Members of Parliament and Congress, government leaders, lived experience experts and policy experts from more than 25 nations and 6 continents in policy solutions to effectively combat human trafficking globally. Under her leadership, nearly every facet of the organization has grown exponentially in a short amount of time. Because of this she brings a unique understanding of non-governmental organization strategy, development and growth. Anne also serves the Board of Directors for the Parliamentary Intelligence Security Forum.
Anne earned a Masters from University of Virginia and began her career working in the United States Senate more than twenty years ago. Most recently, her work has been focused on developing bipartisan human rights policies for organizations by working with members of the U.S. Congress, Executive Branch and state governments. Her op-eds have been featured in publications such as The Hill, the Washington Examiner and the Washington Times, and she has been a guest on various media outlets.
