Rhonda Copelon

Rhonda Copelon (September 15, 1944 – May 6, 2010) was an American human rights lawyer working for women's and human rights. She is known for her contributions to Filártiga v. Peña-Irala, a civil case that extended the jurisdiction of United States courts in some instances.

Early life and education Rhonda Copelon was born on September 15, 1944, in New Haven, the daughter of Herman and Katherine Copelon.

She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1966 with a degree in history and political science and earned her law degree at Yale, graduating in 1970.

She lost Harris v. McRae, a challenge to the Hyde Amendment which cut Medicaid funding for abortions. After leaving the CCR in 1983, she would remain a board member for the rest of her life. She was also a founding board member of the National Economic and Social Initiative, an Advisory Board member of Human Rights Watch, Women's Rights Watch, and Legal Advisor to and founder of Women's Caucus for Gender Justice. By the early 1980s, Copelon had come to realize the importance of establishing international rights as a way of protecting women's rights.

Personal life After losing Harris v. McRae, Copelon and friends hand-built a home on Long Island which served as a recuperation destination for other feminist activists.

Copelon was married to David Shoenbrod.

Death After a four-year fight against ovarian cancer, Copelon died at her home in Manhattan at the age of 65.

In 2012, Catherine Albisa donated the Rhonda Copelon papers to the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College Special Collections. Her papers include "Legal documents and research, correspondence, teaching materials, published writings, panel presentations, notes, and audio and video recordings documenting Copelon's legal activism and teaching. Major topics include reproductive rights, domestic violence, international women's rights, AIDS legislation."