Elizabeth Abi-Mershed

Elizabeth (Houppert) Abi-Mershed, 59, of Bethesda, MD, died on October 17, 2022, after a long battle with breast cancer.

Elizabeth was born in Maryland to Maureen Houppert, a teacher, and Joseph Houppert, a professor. After graduating from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts, Elizabeth went on to attend The Washington College of Law at American University, in Washington, DC., and received a Juris Doctor degree, Cum Laude. After passing the bar, she attended Georgetown University and received a Master in Laws (LL.M.) degree in International and Comparative Law from the Georgetown University Law Center, with distinction.

She spent most of her professional career working at the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, where she eventually served as the Deputy Executive Secretary for the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. She was the Legal Director of the Commission in charge of coordinating and supervising the preparation of all the case, thematic, and country reports. She was also in charge of coordinating the work of the Rapporteurship on the Rights of Women and the group specializing in litigating cases before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. She traveled extensively in Mexico, Central, and South America, and was passionate about the rights of all in the Hemisphere. Through her work she came in contact with thousands of victims of human rights violations, by whom she is remembered as a principled, competent and compassionate advocate for human rights and human dignity; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, the Secretary-General of the OAS, and numerous State and non-State organizations have acknowledged the fundamental nature of her contribution to Inter-American human rights doctrine.

Retiring in 2018, she continued her work of many years as an adjunct professor at American University, specializing in classes on international human rights, humanitarian law, and comparative law. She has mentored many attorneys and, since retirement, continued to publish and present on topics including gender-based violence and torture.

Elizabeth was known for treating everyone she met with warmth and respect. She loved to travel, read, garden, and spend time with family and friends, especially with her beloved son Nicholas.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Houppert, in 1979. Survivors include her son Nicholas Abi-Mershed, mother Maureen Houppert, sister Anne Marie Houppert, and brother David Houppert. There will be a private memorial at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders.