Gopal Siwakoti
South Asia Working Group Chair
President of INHURED International (Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC, UN), Dr. Siwakoti has nearly 40 years of experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion. In the capacity of former Chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and current International Advisor to Platform for Disaster Displacement, he has led multiple missions in Asia-Pacific and beyond in the course of advancing the rights of refugees through global dialogues, civil diplomacy, and advocacy campaign.
In the capacity of international trainer and senior observer at the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), he has joined several exploratory and observation missions in post-conflict societies like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, South Africa, and many others.
He has represented at various UN forums relating to human rights, peace, and migration including the General Assembly, Human Rights Council sessions, and UNHCR-NGO Annual Consultations. He has been conferred several credits/awards including Swiss Statistical Bureau’s Who’s Who on Global Refugee Protection-2002; Summit Person of the Year-2008; Global Nonviolence Advocate-2010 along with National Peace Award-2010; Nominee of UNHCR’s RealLife Hero, 2021 and Human Rights Hero-2022 just to name a few. Other areas of his engagement include guest lectures on refugee protection, disaster response, climate action, transitional justice, and electoral freedom at various universities and academic institutions on all continents. A former prisoner of principle imprisoned for four years and torture survivor, his personal biography and scruples have been radiated in different global media outlets as recognition of his valor and conviction towards safeguarding civil liberty and democratic freedom within and beyond borders.
He has authored, edited, and produced several books, research reports, journals, films, and documentaries on electoral freedom, migration, refugees, disaster displacement, transitional justice, human rights, and peace.