She serves as the CEO of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan and as a Human Rights Fellow at Harvard
Pakistani human rights activist Nayyab Ali. Photo: Facebook.com/nayyabokara
In a landmark recognition of inclusion and diversity, Pakistani human rights defender Nayyab Ali has been officially nominated by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the position of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.
“It is both humbling and deeply meaningful to be included in this process – not as a personal achievement, but as part of a larger struggle for recognition and representation. For the first time in the history of the United Nations, a transgender woman’s name appears on this list,” Nayyab Ali said in a post shared on X.
She further stated that this comes at a time when the global anti-gender movement is actively seeking to roll back hard-fought protections and erase transgender and gender non-conforming people from politics, law and public life – even within multilateral spaces.
“The shrinking civil space for SOGIESC human rights defenders poses an urgent challenge to the universality of human rights itself. Inclusion on this list is therefore more than symbolic; it signals that gender diversity, lived experience and expertise belong at the center of global human rights protection,” she added.
The United Nations has released the list of shortlisted and qualified candidates for the upcoming appointment of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council. It is both humbling and deeply meaningful to be included in this… pic.twitter.com/sLckkThKLb
— Nayyab Ali (@nayyabalipk) 13 October 2025
Speaking to APP on Wednesday, Nayyab said the shortlisting was an affirmation of the UN’s commitment to equality and universality.
“This recognition is a reminder of the UN’s commitment to universality and dignity for all. If appointed, I aim to strengthen the protection of human rights defenders, especially from gender diverse communities, who face violence and exclusion around the world,” she said.
The next stage of the selection process will be carried out by the special advisory group, which includes representatives from Malawi, the Republic of Korea, North Macedonia, Guatemala and Turkey. The group will recommend candidates to the President of the Human Rights Council for final appointment during the 61st session.
Nayyab currently serves as the CEO of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan and as a Global Human Rights Fellow at Harvard University’s Carr Center.
She played a pivotal role in the drafting of Pakistan’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, and has received several international honors, including the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law (2020).
