Sylvain Aubry

Sylvain Aubry is the Deputy Director on Poverty & Inequality, in the Economic Justice and Rights Division. He served as Director of Law and Policy with the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 2014 to 2022, where he headed the organization's research and advocacy on human rights and the role of the State in the delivery of public services. His work has focused on economic inequality, commercialization in education, healthcare, and food, and research and advocacy methodologies. He has coordinated research in over 20 countries, as well as advocacy and trainings with States, international organizations, and UN mechanisms. He was one of the main drivers of the Abidjan Principles on the right to education, and of the movement to hold private schools to account, leading to the landmark IFC decision to redirect its funding away from human rights abuses. 

He has previously conducted research and advocacy for various organizations, including Amnesty International, the Right to Education Initiative, FIAN International, ActionAid, and ESCR-Net, addressing issues including land and human rights, States' extraterritorial obligations, and corporate accountability. 

Sylvain has also taught economic, social and cultural rights in Paris at Science Po's Masters in human rights and humanitarian action. 

After living in East Africa for eight years, Sylvain is now based in Brussels. He holds an LLM in international human rights law from the University of Essex, UK, and a Master's in political sciences and international relations from Sciences Po Aix, France.