Yasmine Ahmed

Yasmine Ahmed is the Director of Human Rights Watch's United Kingdom branch. Yasmine has dedicated their career to promoting just and effective security through a rights-based approach to national security.

Ahmed began their work in this field as the Executive Director of Rights and Security International (RSI), an award-winning charity that promotes just and effective security. Under their leadership, RSI successfully completed two strategic reviews and implemented two organisational strategies. The most recent strategy saw a significant expansion of RSI's work in the form of collaborations and partnerships with organisations and individuals in a number of regions and countries (with a focus on East Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and South America). To reflect this, the organisation changed its name (formerly Rights Watch (UK)) and rebranded.

As Executive Director, Ahmed was responsible for managing a team of highly qualified staff to effectively deliver RSI's strategy. Yasmine also strategically diversified funding sources, significantly increased the reserves of the organisation and cultivated and maintained excellent funding relationships. In addition, they oversaw and managed the financial position of the organisation, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks. Yasmine worked closely with the board of trustees to effectively facilitate oversight and governance of the charity.

During their time at RSI, Ahmed developed a very strong profile and standing for the organisation as a leader in the field of national security and human rights at the domestic and international levels. Yasmine cultivated effective and meaningful relationships with domestic, regional and international stakeholders.

Ahmed's dedication to human rights has been recognised with a number of awards, including the Humanitarian Leadership Award from Save the Children UK (2019) and the prestigious Norman Lear Center Award for Achievement in Entertainment, Media and Society (2020).

Yasmine Ahmed studied journalism at Macquarie University before completing a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide. Yasmine then went on to complete a Master of Laws in International Law at SOAS University of London.

Their manager is Kenneth Roth, Executive Director. They are on a team with Zama Neff - Executive Director, Children’s Rights Division, Tirana Hassan - Deputy Executive Director & Chief Programs Officer, and Alison Leal Parker - Managing Director, US Program.