Advocacy Counsel
Law and Security Program
Joined Human Rights First in 2010

As an Advocacy Counsel in Human Rights First’s Law and Security Program, Melina advocates for U.S. counter-terrorism and national security policies that respect human rights with particular focus on accountability of U.S. private security contractors and accountability of past torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. custody.  In this role, she was of counsel to an amicus brief in support of cert petition in Saleh v. Titan before the U.S. Supreme Court, submitted written testimony for a hearing before the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan on the role of U.S. private security contractors, and authored a Human Rights First report State of Affairs: Three Years After Nisoor Square, Accountability and Oversight of U.S. Private Security and Other Contractors.

While in law school, Melina undertook internships with the United Nations Development Programme in southern Sudan, the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute in London, and Human Rights First in New York City.  She authored Military Commissions Act of 2006: A Regressive Step Back from the International Legal Standards of Rape and Sexual Violence.  Melina received her J.D. with high honors in international law from The Florida State University College of Law and her B.S. in Business Administration from the same university.  She is a member in good standing of the New York State Bar.