Mark Hiznay

Mark Hiznay is an associate director in the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch, where he provides expertise on military operations and weapons technology in documenting human rights violations, promoting respect for international humanitarian law, and advancing new norms. Mark’s work centers on identifying weapons and monitoring implementation of key humanitarian disarmament treaties and declarations. He has written and contributed to numerous Human Rights Watch publications addressing antipersonnel landmines, cluster munitions, chemical weapons, incendiary weapons, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Mark has served as a final editor, thematic editor, and researcher for the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitors since 2000.

Before joining Human Rights Watch in January 2000, Mark conducted operations research, systems analysis, and negotiations support for US government agencies and commercial clients related to arms control treaty implementation and compliance.. He developed plans, procedures, and training to host foreign inspection teams at military and industrial facilities in the United States. Mark also provided policy support and backstopping for US delegations during the negotiation of the amendment of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol II, CCW Protocol IV on blinding laser weapons, and the Mine Ban Treaty.

Mark received a B.A. from Norwich University (the Military College of Vermont) in 1989 and an M.A. from George Washington University in 1992. He served as an infantry soldier in the Army National Guard and US Army Reserve.