Irene Khan

Irene Khan is United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression and Opinion. She previously served as the Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and prior to that as Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Irene helped to found the development organization, Concern Universal, in 1977, and began her work as a human rights activist with the International Commission of Jurists in 1979. She joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1980, and worked in a variety of positions at Headquarters and in field operations to promote the international protection of refugees. She was appointed as the UNHCR Chief of Mission in India in 1995 and as Deputy Director of International Protection in 1999.