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Isha Dyfan

b. 1955

Lawyer from Sierra Leone who is the UN's Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia

Lawyer United Nations Special Rapporteur
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About Isha Dyfan

Born 1955. Isha Dyfan is a Sierra Leonean lawyer and united Nations Special Rapporteur.

Isha Lanla Dyfan (born 1955) is a Sierra Leonean lawyer who became the United Nation's Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia in 2020. She has previously worked for the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur and Amnesty International.

Life Dyfan was born in Kenema in Sierra Leone in 1955. She attended the University of London and she was accepted at the bar in the UK in 1984. She was also accepted in Sierra Leone and she practiced law for over twelve years there until the civil war made her leave for America. The Sierra Leone Civil War lasted from 1991 to 2002. During that time Dyfan, fellow lawyer Yasmin Jusu-Sheriff and Patricia Kabbah worked with groups like the Mano River Women's Peace Network to ensure that wider international community were aware of the abuses that were taking place in Sierra Leone.

She lived in Sudan's Darfur region when she worked for UNAMID, the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur for over four years where she became the Chief of their Human Rights Section.

She started work at Amnesty International in 2018 and she became their Director of International Advocacy. In May 2020 she was identified as the United Nations Human Rights Council's Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia.

In May 2024 she ended a third visit to Somalia. Attacks by Al-Shabaab were still taking a toll particularly on civilians. She supported the government's plans but urged them to deal with gender based violence. She highlighted climate change and the four million Somalian children who were displaced. After the five day visit she published her findings and took part in a Q&A with journalists.

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Important facts

Born
1955, Kenema
Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Sierra Leone, University of London
Employers
Amnesty International, United Nations–African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur
Also known as
Isha Lanla Dyfan

People in Isha Dyfan's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Isha Dyfan's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Isha Dyfan?

Lawyer from Sierra Leone who is the UN's Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia

When was Isha Dyfan born?

Isha Dyfan was born in 1955 in Kenema.

What is Isha Dyfan's occupation?

Isha Dyfan is a lawyer and united Nations Special Rapporteur.

What nationality is Isha Dyfan?

Isha Dyfan is Sierra Leonean.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Isha Dyfan

· Wikidata: Q126464295

· DBpedia: Isha Dyfan

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Isha Dyfan. https://biography.guide/isha-dyfan/

MLA: "Isha Dyfan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/isha-dyfan/.

Chicago: "Isha Dyfan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/isha-dyfan/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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