Diego García-Sayán (Peru)
December 2016 – October 2022

Mr. Diego García-Sayán served as the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers from December 2016 to October 2022. Previously, he was a judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for two consecutive terms, as well as the Minister of Justice during the democratic transition in Peru and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

UN Special Rapporteur Initiatives

Mónica Pinto (Argentina)
August 2015 – October 2016

Ms. Mónica Pinto served as Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers from August 2015 to October 2016. Previously, she served as the UN independent expert on the situation of human rights in Guatemala (1993-1997) and Chad (2004-2005).

Gabriela Knaul (Brazil)
August 2009 – July 2015

Ms. Gabriela Knaul served as Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers from August 2009 to July 2015. Previously, she served for more than 10 years as a judge in Brazil and worked with the National Judicial Council to enhance the functioning of the judiciary.

Leandro Despouy (Argentina)
August 2003 – July 2009

Mr. Leandro Despouy served as Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers from August 2003 to July 2009. Previously, he served as the Special Rapporteur of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on extreme poverty and human rights, and the UN Special Rapporteur on disabled persons and human rights.

Param Cumaraswamy (Malaysia)
1994 – July 2003

Mr. Param Cumaraswamy served as Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers from 1994 to July 2003. Previously, he served as Chair of the Malaysian Bar Council and was a founding member of the Council’s Human Rights Committee and Legal Aid Committee.