Debra Long

Debra is the international policy manager for rule of law and human rights at the Law Society of England and Wales (LSEW). In this role, Debra oversees the Lawyers at Risk programme, which supports lawyers globally who face human rights violations because of their work. Debra also manages the Peer Engagement and Capacity Building programme at the LSEW, which aims to work together with other law societies and bar associations, as well as lawyers, government officials and civil society organisations to promote the independence of the legal profession, protection for lawyers and adherence to the rule of law.

Debra is a UK qualified solicitor specialised in international human rights and holds a PhD in human rights law from the University of Bristol, UK. Since 2000, Debra has worked globally to promote the implementation of human rights. Before joining the Law Society, Debra was deputy director of the Human Rights Implementation Centre at the University of Bristol Law School. She has also worked as a legal and policy adviser at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International, and as head of the UN and legal programme at the Association for the Prevention of Torture in Geneva, Switzerland. As well as conducting advocacy at the UN and regional human rights systems, Debra has led international research projects and published widely on international human rights, including on the prevention of torture and the implementation of human rights decisions.

Debra’s career in human rights has enabled her to engage with stakeholders in many commonwealth countries, and her membership of the Executive Committee provides an avenue to continue to collaborate with a range of stakeholders across the Commonwealth.