Verity Coyle

Verity Coyle is the deputy director for Arms in the Crisis, Conflict and Arms division.  

Verity oversees our work on humanitarian disarmament, from landmines and cluster munitions to incendiary weapons, explosive weapons in populated areas, and autonomous weapons systems (or killer robots). A key part of this work is done with our partners in global coalitions who work together to advance and uphold the norms and international law. 

Verity has over 20 years of experience working on and leading major global campaigns, including related to the Arms Trade Treaty, the Stop Killer Robots campaign to establish a treaty on autonomous weapons systems, and the Torture Free Trade initiative. She has worked extensively at the United Nations, advocating and influencing within many multilateral spaces. 

While working on the conventional weapons trade, Verity specialized in developing policy guidance, research and multi-government training related to gender-based violence and arms exports. 

Prior to joining Human Rights Watch, Verity was the senior advisor on military, policing, and security at Amnesty International. She previously worked with the Stimson Center, Control Arms, and Oxfam International. 

Verity received her bachelor’s in media production from the University of Lincoln.