Bogotá, 31 October 2025. It is in Bogotá, on the occasion of the FIDH Congress, held every three years in a different city, that Alexis Deswaef has been elected President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a global network of nearly 200 human rights organisations from over 115 countries. Mr Deswaef, a Belgian lawyer specialising in international law, has devoted his life and career to the defence of human rights.
A tireless activist, former president of the Belgian Human Rights League and vice-president of FIDH for six years, he is known for his engagement in many parts of the world: in Europe, defending the rights of migrants, as well as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Middle East, Iraq, Palestine, Israel and Egypt. Alexis Deswaef is also a lawyer at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
A fighting FIDH
"First and foremost, I wish to thank the organisations that have placed their trust in me. I am well aware that many of them are suffering from the current international context, and from cuts to development aid budgets", said Alexis Deswaef. "While building on the legacy of my predecessor, Alice Mogwe, whose work I greatly salute, together we will make FIDH a fighting organisation, at the service of human rights everywhere in the world. Victims, human rights defenders and civil society organisations will be at the heart of our struggle."
"With Alexis at the head of FIDH, the organisation is in good hands", declared Alice Mogwe, now Honorary President of FIDH. "His energy, passion, and his talents for persuasion and reflection will not only allow us to weather the storms wich we are facing, but also to continue growing, always in the service of the most vulnerable, who must be protected. He knows he can count on my unwavering support."
A Renewed International Board
To accompany him in his three-year mandate, Alexis Deswaef will work with the newly elected International Board of FIDH. The members of this Board come from FIDH’s member organisations and are elected by them. The new composition is as follows.
Fifteen Vice-Presidents
José Aylwin, Chile
Diana Alzeer, Palestine
Sophie Giroud, France
Anna Henga, Tanzania
Daniel Holder, Northern Ireland
Jean-Claude Katende, Democratic Republic of Congo
Kayan Leung, South Africa
Taygeti Michalakea, Greece
Ucha Nanuashvili , Georgia
Joaquin Nieto Sainz, Spain
Teppei Ono, Japan
Diana Palencia, Mexico
Aziz Rhali, Morocco
Aina Shormanbayeva, Kazakhstan
Musiiwa Takesure, Zimbabwe
Four Secretaries-General
Soraya Gutiérrez Argüello, Colombia
Shahindha Ismail, Maldives
Aïssa Rahmoune, Algeria
Drissa Traoré, Côte d’Ivoire
Treasurer
Benoît Courtieu, France