Irene Khan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irene Khan
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Khan in 2024
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| UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression | |
| Assumed office July 2020 |
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| Preceded by | David Kaye |
| Director-General of the International Development Law Organization | |
| In office January 2012 – December 2019 |
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| Preceded by | William T. Loris |
| Succeeded by | Jan Beagle |
| Chancellor of the University of Salford | |
| In office 2009–2015 |
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| Preceded by | Professor Sir Martin Harris |
| Succeeded by | Jackie Kay |
| Secretary-General of Amnesty International | |
| In office 2001–2009 |
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| Preceded by | Pierre Sané |
| Succeeded by | Salil Shetty |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Irene Zubaida Khan
24 December 1956 Dhaka, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi, British |
| Relatives | Mahbub Ali Khan (Uncle) Zubaida Rahman (Cousin) |
| Education | Law |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester Harvard Law School |
Irene Zubaida Khan (born 24 December 1956) is a lawyer and activist from Bangladesh and Britain. She works to protect human rights around the world. Currently, she is the United Nations Special Rapporteur for freedom of expression and opinion. This means she helps make sure people can share their thoughts and ideas freely.
Before this, she was the leader of Amnesty International from 2001 to 2009. This is a big organization that works for human rights. She also led the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) in Rome from 2012 to 2019. IDLO helps countries create fair laws and build a strong justice system.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Irene Khan was born on 24 December 1956 in Dhaka, which was then called East Pakistan and is now Bangladesh. Her family has roots in Sylhet. Her grandfather was a mathematics expert and lawyer, and her great-great-grandfather came from Afghanistan. Her uncle, Mahbub Ali Khan, was a high-ranking officer in the Bangladesh Navy.
Irene was a very bright student. She went to St Francis Xavier's Green Herald International School in Bangladesh. When she was a teenager, East Pakistan became the independent country of Bangladesh in 1971, after a war. This war involved terrible violence, and it made Irene want to work for human rights.
After the war, she moved to Northern Ireland for high school. Later, she went to England to study law at the Victoria University of Manchester. She then continued her law studies in the United States at Harvard Law School. She focused on international law and human rights, learning how to protect people's basic rights across different countries.
Working for Human Rights
Early Career
Irene Khan started her career helping others in 1977. She helped create an organization called Concern Universal, which provides aid during emergencies and helps with development. In 1979, she began working as a human rights activist with the International Commission of Jurists.
In 1980, Irene joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She spent 20 years there, helping people who had to leave their homes because of war or danger. In 1995, she became the youngest UNHCR country representative when she led the team in India. Later, during the Kosovo crisis in 1999, she led the UNHCR team in Macedonia.
Leading Amnesty International
In 2001, Irene Khan became the Secretary General of Amnesty International. This was a very important role. During her time there, she made changes to how Amnesty International responded to human rights problems.
She started a campaign to close the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, a place where people were held without proper trials. She also launched a worldwide campaign in 2004 to stop violence against women. In 2009, she started the "Demand Dignity" campaign. This campaign aimed to fight human rights abuses that make people poor and keep them from having a good life.
Promoting Freedom of Expression
In August 2020, Irene Khan was chosen for a new role: Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion. In this job, she works to protect people's right to speak freely and share their ideas.
She also chairs the Supervisory Board of BRAC International, a large organization that helps people in poverty. In 2024, she visited the Philippines to check on how people's rights to freedom of opinion and expression were being protected there.
Rule of Law Work
While leading the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), Irene Khan focused on the idea that fair laws, known as the "rule of law," are very important. She believes that good laws can help make society more equal and fair for everyone. This includes reducing unfairness and making sure everyone has justice and feels included.
Awards and Recognition
Irene Khan has received many awards for her important work. In 1979, she received a Ford Foundation Fellowship. In 2002, she won the Pilkington "Woman of the Year" Award.
In 2006, she was given the Sydney Peace Prize. This award recognized her brave work in supporting human rights for everyone. It also highlighted her efforts to show that violence against women is a huge injustice and a key issue for peace.
Since 2007, many universities have given her honorary doctorates. These are special degrees that recognize her achievements. Some of these universities include Ghent University, the University of London, University of Manchester, University of St Andrews, University of Salford, Staffordshire University, and University of Edinburgh.
From 2009 to 2015, she served as the Chancellor of the University of Salford in the UK. This is an important leadership role at a university.
Family Connections
Irene Khan's cousin, Zubaida Rahman, is married to Tarique Rahman, a politician from Bangladesh. Her uncle, Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan, was the head of the Bangladesh Navy during the time of Ziaur Rahman.
See also
In Spanish: Irene Khan para niños
- British Bangladeshi
- List of British Bangladeshis
