Georgette Gagnon is Executive Director of the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch (HRW).  She leads a team of international researchers and advocates who investigate and report on human rights abuses in countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. With expertise on protection of civilians and violations of international humanitarian law in armed conflict, and on justice and accountability for atrocities, Ms. Gagnon and her team urge governments to change their abusive policies through advocacy at the United Nations, the African and European Unions and in African and world capitals.

From 2004-07, Ms. Gagnon was Deputy Director of HRW's Africa Division. Prior to joining HRW, Ms. Gagnon held the post of Director of Human Rights for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina based in Sarajevo.  She has also served with the United Nations in senior posts in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda.  Ms. Gagnon is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada and holds an LL.M with Distinction in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex in the UK.