Agnès Callamard

Dr. Agnès Callamard has established herself as a preeminent figure in international human rights advocacy, currently serving as Secretary General of Amnesty International after previously directing Columbia University's Global Freedom of Expression initiative. Her distinguished career spans over three decades of human rights and humanitarian work, including nine years as Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, where she championed global freedom of expression and information access. Her academic credentials include a PhD in Political Science from the New School for Social Research, complemented by her role as Special Adviser to Columbia University's President. As the former UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, she conducted groundbreaking investigations in over 30 countries and led high-profile inquiries, including the investigation into journalist Jamal Khashoggi's assassination. Her pioneering work includes founding HAP International, the first self-regulatory body for humanitarian agencies, and serving as Chef de Cabinet for Amnesty International's Secretary General. Callamard's extensive publications cover human rights, women's rights, refugee movements, and accountability, while her expertise has been sought by multilateral organizations and governments worldwide. Her leadership at Amnesty International now encompasses directing the organization's global human rights work and serving as its chief spokesperson, managing both strategic direction and relationships with national entities.