​Marti Flacks

Senior Associate (Non-resident), Human Rights Initiative
Marti Flacks

Marti Flacks is a senior associate (non-resident) with the Human Rights Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She was previously director of the Human Rights Initiative and Khosravi Chair in Principled Internationalism at CSIS from 2021 to 2023. Marti most recently served as the first deputy assistant secretary for the Supply Chain Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where she oversaw the design and launch of first-of-their-kind supply chain assessment tools that reshaped how the U.S. government quantifies and analyzes economic security risks. Earlier, Marti spent more than a decade working on a wide array of foreign policy issues across the U.S. government, including serving as director of African affairs at the National Security Council and in senior positions in the State Department’s Energy Resources and Africa Bureaus. She received her BS in foreign service from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, her MA in law and diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and her JD from Columbia Law School. Marti is originally from Solon, Ohio, and serves on the board of the Ohio Democracy Project.

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The Future of the Care Economy

Join the CSIS Human Rights Initiative for a panel discussion on the link between the care economy and countries’ economic growth prospects, as well as why meeting this challenge is an economic, social, and national security imperative.

Event — November 16, 2023

Seafood Alliance for Legality and Traceability Forum- Taking Stock and Next Steps

The Stephenson Ocean Security Project and the Human Rights Initiative will host an impact event to bring together sectoral experts, government representatives, industry leaders, and civil society stakeholders to reflect on the progress made and to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead as we move towards a more sustainable and traceable seafood industry.

Event — September 15, 2023

Press Briefing: Previewing the High-Level Week of UNGA 78

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will host a call-in press briefing on to preview the high-level General Debate at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78), which will begin Tuesday, September 19.

Event — September 14, 2023

Cyber Scamming as a New Destination for Human Trafficking Victims

Over 100,000 people have been trafficked to compounds in Southeast Asia where they are forced to conduct cyber scams. Preventing victim recruitment and combating the corruption that enables this crime to thrive will require collaboration from governments, NGOs, and the private sector.

Critical Questions by Lauren Burke Preputnik, Liam Hamama , and ​Marti Flacks — August 17, 2023

What Does the ESG Backlash Mean for Human Rights?

The use of ESG considerations by companies and investors has recently faced backlash at the state and federal level in the United States. The CSIS Human Rights Initiative examines the potential impact of these responses on the global ESG landscape and human rights.

Commentary by ​Marti Flacks and Hannah Norman — August 16, 2023

What’s Next for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act?

One year into enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the CSIS Human Rights Initiative assesses implementation to date, forthcoming changes in enforcement, and what other steps Congress and the administration may take to address forced labor in the region.

Critical Questions by ​Marti Flacks — June 21, 2023