Name: Irene Khan
Mandate: Freedom of Expression and Opinion
Tenure: Since 1 August 2020
From: Bangladesh
Bio: An internationally recognized advocate for human rights, gender equality, and social justice, Irene Khan serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. She is also a lecturer at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva and the co-author of The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights, published in seven languages. Formerly the Secretary General of Amnesty International and Director-General of the International Development Law Organization, Khan brings decades of experience in global human rights advocacy to her mandate.
About the mandate: Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy, which allows individuals and groups to enjoy several other human rights and freedoms. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur was created by the Human Rights Council to protect and promote freedom of opinion and expression, offline and online, in light of international human rights law and standards.
