Nayyab Ali becomes first trans woman from Pakistan shortlisted for UN Special Rapporteur

She serves as Executive Director of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan and as Human Rights Fellow at Harvard

In a landmark recognition of inclusion and diversity, Pakistani human rights defender Nayyab Ali has been officially shortlisted 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 UN history, a transgender woman’s name appears on this list,” said Nayyab Ali 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-won protections and erase transgender and gender-diverse persons from policy, law, and public life — even within multilateral spaces.

“The shrinking civic space for SOGIESC human rights defenders poses an urgent challenge to the universality of human rights itself. Inclusion in this list is, therefore, more than symbolic; it signals that gender diversity, lived experience, and expertise belong at the centre of global human rights protection,” she added.

United Nations has released the list of shortlisted & eligible candidates for the upcoming appointment of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders at the 61st Human Rights Council session. It is both humbling and deeply meaningful to be included in this… pic.twitter.com/sLckkThKLb

— Nayyab Ali - نایاب علی (@nayyabalipk) October 13, 2025

Speaking to APP on Wednesday, Nayyab said the shortlisting was a reaffirmation of the UN’s commitment to equality and universality.

“This acknowledgment is a reminder that the UN stands firm on universality and dignity for all. If appointed, I aim to strengthen protections for human rights defenders, especially from gender-diverse communities, who face violence and exclusion worldwide,” she stated.

The next phase of the selection process will be conducted by the Special Consultative Group, which includes representatives from Malawi, the Republic of Korea, North Macedonia, Guatemala, and Türkiye. The group will recommend candidates to the President of the Human Rights Council for final appointment during the 61st Session.

Nayyab currently serves as Executive Director of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan and as a Global Human Rights Fellow at Harvard University’s Carr Center.

She played a pivotal role in drafting Pakistan’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, and has received several international honours, including the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law (2020).