A highly experienced legal professional based in New York City, Simone Monasebian joined Sanctuary For Families (SFF) as Chief Program Officer in 2024. As the organization’s inaugural chief program officer, she oversees all programming strategy and development at the state’s premier services provider in areas of sex trafficking, domestic violence, and gender-based violence. In 2024, program leaders like Simone Monasebian helped SFF provide services to more than 8,000 survivors of violence throughout the state.
Previously, Simone Monasebian spent 14 years with the United Nations Office On Drugs and Crime (UNODC). As the director of the UNODC New York Office, she overhauled all programming, with a focus on criminal justice reform and protecting the rights of women and girls. A few of her past positions include principal defender with the Special Court for Sierra Leone and trial attorney for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal For Rwanda. She has taught law at Seton Hall University Law School and appeared on CourtTV where she served as a legal analyst.
Simone Monasebian completed her pre-law studies at New York University, receiving the Founders Day Outstanding Scholarship Award and interned with City Council Member Ruth Messinger, as well as what has become the Urban Justice Center. She received her law degree from the Syracuse University College of Law. She was a Charles H. Revson Foundation Law Student Public Interest Fellow and on the Dean's List. Her law school internships included the Legal Aid Society Civil Division and the organization’s Juvenile Rights Division Special Litigation Unit.