Olivier De Schutter

Dr. Olivier De Schutter serves as Professor at the Université catholique de Louvain and SciencesPo Paris, while holding the position of UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights since May 2020. His extensive academic credentials include an LL.M. from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the University of Louvain, complemented by teaching positions at prestigious institutions including Columbia University, New York University, and the College of Europe. His career encompasses significant roles in human rights advocacy, including serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food from 2008 to 2014, coordinating the EU Network of Independent Experts on Fundamental Rights from 2002 to 2007, and acting as General Secretary of the International Federation of Human Rights from 2004 to 2008. His research and publications focus on international human rights law, economic and social rights, and governance, earning him the prestigious Francqui Prize in 2013 for his contributions to international and European human rights law. As co-chair of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, he continues to influence global policy on food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development while teaching courses on human rights law, European Union law, and legal theory at various institutions worldwide.