Irene Zubaida Khan, a veteran international human rights advocate, has taken office as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
Khan presented her credentials to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, formally assuming her role as Bangladesh’s envoy to the
world body.
She brings decades of experience in human rights, international law, refugee protection, the
rule of law and sustainable development, including senior roles at the United Nations and other international organizations.
Before taking up her new role, Khan had served since 2020 as the UN Special Rapporteur on
the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. From 2001 to 2009,
she served as Secretary-General of Amnesty International, becoming the first woman to lead the organization.
From 2012 to 2019, Khan served as Director-General of the International Development Law
Organization (IDLO). Earlier in her career, she spent 21 years with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), holding a number of senior positions including Chief of Mission in India and Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection.
Khan received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 and is the author of The Unheard Truth:
Poverty and Human Rights. She studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law
School.