| Walter Kälin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 May 1951 Zurich, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Alma mater | University of Bern, (Dr. iur.); Harvard Law School, (LL.M.) |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Professor, Humanitarian, Politician |
| Title | Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (since September 2004) |
Walter Kälin (born 1951 in Zurich) is a preeminent Swiss humanitarian, constitutional lawyer, international human rights lawyer, activist, and advocate. He is also known as a legal scholar and a renowned professor. He has been a leader in changing Swiss laws and international laws for humanitarian purposes and he has been published extensively on issues of human rights law, the law of internally displaced persons, refugee law, and Swiss constitutional law.[1]
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Walter Kälin received his Doctor of Law from the University of Bern and his LL.M. from Harvard Law School.[1]
Kälin has been a professor of international and constitutional law at the University of Bern since 1985.[1] He is also a former Dean of the Faculty and Head of the Legal Department.[2]
He has acted as a consultant for numerous agencies and organizations – including the Swiss development agency, SDC, UNHCR, UNHCHR, UNDP, and others – on matters of decentralization, human rights, and refugee law.[1]
In 1991-1992, Kälin served as the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Kuwait under Iraqi Occupation.[3] He was also a member of the Swiss government's Steering Committee for "the preparation of constitutional reform" and he was Chairman for the preparation of the reform of the judiciary (1995–1996).[1]
From 2003 to 2008, Kälin was a member of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations.[3]
Since 2004, Kälin has served as the Representative of the United Nations' Secretary-General on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.[3]
Walter Kälin Professional Biography on the United Nations OHCHR Website