Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), represented by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface participated in the Global Rights Connection (GRC) International Human Rights Training Programme organized by Equitas, Canada from October to December 2021. The closing ceremony held Wednesday, December 15 with Mary Lawlor, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Below is a brief profile of MARY LAWLOR.

Ms. Mary Lawlor has been the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders since May 1, 2020. She has worked extensively with human rights defenders and their situation. In 2001, she founded Front Line Defenders – International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders to help human rights defenders at risk. As Managing Director from 2001 to 2016, Ms. Lawlor represented Front Line Defenders and played a key role in its development. Ms Lawlor also headed the Irish section of Amnesty International from 1988 to 2000. She became a member of its board in 1975, and served as its chair from 1983 to 1987. She is currently Associate Professor of Business and Human Rights at the Center for Social Innovation (CSI) at Trinity College Dublin Business School and is a member of the School’s Advisory Board.