Ms Jilani remains an advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan , having been appointed in 1992. She is also a member of the Elders , an independent group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007 working for peace, justice and human rights, and is the recipient of numerous awards in recognition of her life-long contributions in these areas, including the Millennium Peace Prize for Women in 2001.
IBAHRI Co-Chair and former President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association , Mark Stephens CBE, commented: 'I'm thrilled to welcome Hina Jilani, a global icon of human rights who brings to the IBAHRI in her new role as my Co-Chair an unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and promoting universal human rights in order to make the world a better place. It is an honour to be working alongside such an esteemed lawyer and a passionate advocate for fundamental human rights.'
IBAHRI Director Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC added: 'It is an enormous pleasure and privilege to welcome Hina Jilani to the role of Co-Chair of the IBAHRI. Hina Jilani is a renowned and respected lawyer and human rights activist. The IBAHRI has worked closely with Hina in her role as a member of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom , for which the IBAHRI serves as Secretariat. We have already benefited greatly from Hina's wisdom and experience, and we look forward to working ever closer over the next few years.'
Ms Jilani established Pakistan's first all-female law firm in 1980 and in the same year co-founded the Women's Action Forum - a pressure group set up to campaign for women's rights and challenge Pakistan's discriminatory laws. Despite persecution, beatings and arrests because of their activism, the group's members fought tirelessly for democracy in Pakistan. Ms Jilani was also among the founders of Dastak , a shelter providing free legal counsel and support to victims of gender-based violence. Her work in Pakistan has made her a target of hostile propaganda, arrests, threats and intimidation. In 1986, she established Pakistan's first legal aid centre.
Ms Jilani has also served in several high-profile positions including as:
- the first UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (2000-2008);
- a member of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur - appointed by the United Nations Security Council (2004);
- a member of the Eminent Jurists Panel on Human Rights and Counter Terrorism - appointed by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) (2006-2008);
- a member of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza conflict (2009);
- a Commissioner of the ICJ (2013); and
- a member of the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom , an independent body established to provide advice and recommendations to governments to prevent and reverse abuses of media freedom (2019).
In the current decade, Ms Jilani was appointed to the International Commission of Inquiry on Systemic Racist Police Violence Against People of African Descent in the United States in 2020, after George Floyd was killed by a police officer while being arrested in the United States.
