Irene Khan Officially Assumes Office as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Distinguished human rights advocate Irene Zubaida Khan has officially assumed office as Bangladesh’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Khan formally began her tenure on Friday after presenting her credentials to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Headquarters in New York.

A globally recognized expert in international law, the rule of law, sustainable development, human rights, and refugee protection, Khan most recently served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, a position she held since 2020.

Earlier, she served as the first female Secretary General of Amnesty International from 2001 to 2009, leading the global human rights organization through a period of significant international advocacy.

From 2012 to 2019, Khan was Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), where she worked to strengthen legal institutions and promote justice and sustainable development worldwide.

Before joining IDLO, she spent 21 years with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), holding several senior positions, including Chief of Mission in India and Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection.

Khan holds law degrees from Harvard Law School and the University of Manchester. In recognition of her contributions to human rights, she was awarded the prestigious Sydney Peace Prize in 2006.

She is also the author of the widely acclaimed book The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights.