Tirana Hassan, 48, becomes the new executive director of the NGO Human Rights Watch. This is the first time that a woman has taken the helm of the organization. She replaces Kenneth Roth, who spent 29 years in this position.
Tirana Hassan, a lawyer and “a seasoned human rights investigator who has documented numerous violations in the context of crises and conflicts around the world”, indicates the NGO, has held this position as acting director since September 2022, after the departure of Kenneth Roth.
Born in Singapore to a Pakistani father and a Sri Lankan and Chinese mother, this Australian-born lawyer “began her career as a social worker and spent many years working with women and children in difficult situations. of conflict and crisis,” the organization points out, adding that it joined Human Rights Watch (HRW) in 2010.
“The defense of human rights is more urgent than ever”
She then joined Amnesty International for a while before returning to HRW as Head of Programs in 2020. “Tirana has this rare combination of investigative experience, strategic creativity and deep commitment to human rights principles. human rights that Human Rights Watch needs to meet the complex challenges facing the world, ”reacted Kenneth Roth, quoted in the press release.
Among Tirana Hassan’s priorities: “to activate all possible levers to push governments to respect their legal obligations with regard to victims everywhere in the world, whether in Afghanistan, Israel, Palestine, Ethiopia or even Iran”.
Tirana Hassan grew up in Australia, her family having fled Singapore because of her father’s academic research into housing policies which had “raised the ire of a government that suppressed dissent”. The story of her family, victim of racism, prejudice and repression, “contributed to shaping her vision of the world and pushed her to work in favor of human rights”, also underlines the Organization.
Tirana Hassan was also in charge of the protection of children and victims of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict zones as well as the response to natural disasters in Asia and Africa. “I am honored to lead this exceptional organization at a time when the defense of human rights is more urgent than ever,” reacted the person concerned, quoted in the press release.