Agnès Callamard

Dr. Agnès Callamard stands as a prominent figure in international human rights advocacy, serving as Director of Columbia University's Global Freedom of Expression initiative and Special Adviser to Columbia University President Lee Bollinger. Her distinguished career includes nine transformative years as Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, where she led global efforts to promote and defend freedom of expression and information access. As the founder of the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP International), she created the first international self-regulatory body for humanitarian agencies, demonstrating her innovative approach to global accountability. Her expertise spans multiple roles, including her position as Chef de Cabinet for Amnesty International's Secretary General and Research-Policy Coordinator, where she spearheaded crucial policy work and research across various human rights issues. Dr. Callamard's impact extends to over 30 countries where she has conducted human rights investigations, providing expert guidance to multilateral organizations and governments worldwide. Her scholarly contributions include significant publications on human rights, women's rights, refugee movements, and accountability mechanisms. Through her leadership at Columbia University's Global Freedom of Expression initiative, she continues to advance understanding of freedom of expression norms globally, while working to strengthen protections for fundamental human rights