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Her Rights, Her Future: Advancing Access to Justice
Date: Friday March 20, 2025 | 10:30 am - 12:00 pm EST
Location: Church Center at UN Headquarters New York City
777 United Nations Plaza, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017 United States
Free Admissions.
Our panel discussion is focused on envisioning a change and a future where women are not only economically empowered but also actively participating in influencing the advancement of access and decision-making processes in justice.
VERY IMPORTANT:
Registration on the WHOVA platform is mandatory for all participants. Without a QR code from this application, attendees will not be allowed into the building due to security reasons.
Step 1: Register on the Whova platform using this link: https://ngocsw70.events.whova.com/registration/
Step 2: Download the Whova app and log in
Speaker: Hon. Danielle Peterson
Supreme Court Judge
The Hon. Danielle M. Peterson is a justice on the Nassau County Supreme Court in the 10th Judicial District of New York. She was elected to the bench on November 2, 2021
Before her election, Judge Peterson sat as a judge on the Nassau County Family Court, a position to which she was elected in 2014.
Judge Peterson earned a B.A. from the University of Delaware in 1997. She then completed a J.D at Hofstra University, Maurice A Deane School of Law in 2000. She was licensed to practice in NY and New Jersey.
After graduating from law school, Peterson began her legal career as an attorney in private practice. She worked in that capacity until 2010, at which time she became a principal law clerk to the Hon. Anthony L. Parga of Nassau County Supreme Court.
Her membership has included the Nassau County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Armenian Bar Association.
Speaker : Dr. Ani Kalayjian
Psychotherapist and Integrative Healer
Dr. Ani Kalayjian, psychology faculty at Meaningfulworld, is a multicultural and multilingual Psychotherapist, Genocide Prevention Scholar, International Humanitarian Outreach Administrator, Integrative Healer, author, poet, and United Nations Representative. She was awarded Highest Medal of Honor from Columbia University (2025), & Distinguished Alumni of the Year (2007) award, Lifetime Achievement Award, APA (2024), Outstanding Psychologist of the Year Award from American Psychological Association (2016, Trauma Division), a Humanitarian Award from the University of Missouri-Columbia (2014), the 2010 ANA Honorary Human Rights Award, the Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Long Island University (2001) recognizing 30 years as a pioneering clinical researcher, professor, humanitarian outreach administrator, community organizer & psycho-spiritual facilitator around the globe and at UN.
She has over 100 published articles in international journals, 6 books, Disaster & Mass Trauma, as well as Chief Editor of Forgiveness & Reconciliation: Psychological Pathways to Conflict Transformation and Peace Building (Springer, 2010), Chief Editor of II Volumes on Mass Trauma & Emotional Healing around the World: Rituals and Practices for Resilience and Meaning-Making (Praeger, ABC-CLIO 2010), Forget Me Not: 7 steps for Healing our Body, Mind, Spirit, and Mother Earth (2018), A journey of Empowerment, Healing, and Transformation (2023).
Speaker : Sossi Boladian
Pharmacist, Gender Expert, Female Activist
Born in Aleppo and educated across multicultural academic environments, Sossi Nercessian Boladian built her career at the intersection of science, public health, and women’s rights advocacy. After completing her early education in Armenian and American schools, she earned her secondary baccalaureate and went on to pursue a degree in Pharmacy at the American University of Beirut. She has since practiced as both a chemist and a community pharmacist, grounding her professional path in healthcare and service.
Her humanitarian and social impact work began during the Lebanese civil war through her leadership involvement with the Armenian Relief Society, where she served for many years across multiple committees and on the executive board, supporting vulnerable and displaced communities under high-risk conditions.
In 1998, Sosi was appointed as a representative of the Armenian community to the National Commission of Lebanese Women, where she remains an active and influential member. Her work there has contributed to national advocacy and draft legislation advancing women’s rights and dignity — including nationality rights for mothers, prevention of child marriage, economic and educational access, and protection against gender-based violence.
As Head of the Health Committee, she has led nationwide awareness initiatives focused on women’s health, including breast cancer early detection, hypertension and kidney health, osteoporosis prevention, and anti-smoking campaigns. She has collaborated closely with international development and UN agencies on gender and health programs.
She also contributed to the founding of the Arab Women’s Organization as part of the Lebanese delegation, supporting regional cooperation to advance women’s status across Arab countries. Her advocacy work has taken her to international forums and policy workshops across the Middle East and Europe. She headed the health committee at NCLW, conducting awareness programs for women on Breast Cancer and the importance of early detection, awareness on the effect of hypertension on the kidneys for women, osteoporosis, and campaigns against smoking. Sosi is also a member of the board of different Armenian foundations as Jinishian Memorial and The Azounieh Sanatorium of Lebanon, and worked alongside the UNFPA, UNDP, and UN Women.
In addition to her policy and advocacy roles, she serves on the boards of multiple Armenian charitable and healthcare foundations. Bringing academic depth to her field experience, she later earned a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies.
Today, Sosi continues her dual mission of healthcare service and public advocacy — practicing pharmacy, contributing to national women’s policy work, and speaking on women’s rights, health equity, and social reform.
Speaker : Tamar Dekonisidze
Eurasia Regional Representative at Equality Now
Maria is a writer, journalist, and editor with over two decades of experience covering Armenia and the region. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, she moved to Canada with her family in the 1960s and in 2001, repatriated to Armenia, where she has lived ever since.
She has reported extensively from Armenia and the Armenian diaspora communities in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, shedding light on their challenges and resilience. Her career spans roles as an anchor at Armenia’s Public Television, Associate Editor of the U.S.-based Armenian Reporter, and Managing Editor at CivilNet. She is the founding Editor-in-Chief of EVN Report, a leading English-language magazine dedicated to in-depth journalism on Armenia’s political, social, and cultural landscape.
For over a decade, Maria has been a faculty member in the English and Communications Department at the American University of Armenia and recently helped to develop the university’s Master’s in Journalism program.
Moderator: Denise Darmanian
Attorney at Law, Partner at Gallo & Darmanian, Esqs
Born and raised in NYC, Denise is a proud New Yorker and a proud Armenian. She is a named partner in the law firm of Gallo & Darmanian, where she has practiced law since graduating from law school. Her fields of practice include primarily corporate law and intellectual property law. The firm’s client base spans the globe and Denise enjoys traveling throughout North America, Europe and South America to meet client needs and bridge cultural gaps. Denise is an active member of the Armenian Bar Association and serves as Co-Chair with Karén Tonoyan of the IP-IT Committee.
Denise and her husband of blessed memory, Berc Panosyan, have one son, Armen, who is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in college.
Denise is both honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve as Moderator of today’s Panel entitled “Her Rights, Her Future: Advancing Access to Justice” in conjunction with the 70th Session of the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women 2026.
