Dr. Alice Edwards is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture — the first woman to hold the mandate in its 40-year history. Her work bridges legal innovation and real-world impact. Across nearly three decades, she has shaped global standards while working directly with governments, institutions, and affected communities to drive reform. She has documented human rights violations and advocated for justice, rehabilitation and peace on behalf of victims and survivors in major wars, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rwanda, Mozambique, Ukraine, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Palestine and Israel. Widely recognized as a thought leader in international affairs, she has helped transform how the world understands torture, including advancing the recognition of rape and sexual violence as forms of torture and persecution. Previously, she served as the chief legal adviser at the UN Refugee Agency and led the Convention against Torture Initiative, supporting states to criminalize torture and strengthen implementation of international law. Dr. Edwards’ work continues to redefine how the international community confronts torture today — placing particular emphasis on exposing and addressing sexual torture, one of its most pervasive forms.