Irene Khan Takes Charge as Bangladesh’s UN Ambassador

Internationally acclaimed human rights advocate Irene Zubaida Khan has assumed office as Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations.

She formally took charge on Friday by presenting her credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York.

Khan brings decades of international experience in human rights, international law, refugee protection, the rule of law and sustainable development. Throughout her career, she has held senior positions at the United Nations and other international organisations.

From 2020, Khan served as the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Earlier, she served as secretary general of Amnesty International from 2001 to 2009, becoming the first woman to head the organisation.

Between 2012 and 2019, she served as director general of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).

Before that, Khan spent 21 years with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where she held several senior positions, including chief of mission in India and deputy director of the Division of International Protection.

In recognition of her contributions to human rights and peace, Khan received the prestigious Sydney Peace Prize in 2006. She is also the author of The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights.

Khan studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School.