Peter Irwin is Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Network for Uyghur Rights (NUR). He leads NUR’s research and advocacy strategy, directs communications, and mentors young Uyghur researchers. Irwin has testified before the UK Parliament and the Uyghur Tribunal, and has advocated at the United Nations and other multilateral forums. He regularly offers commentary to international media related to China and the Uyghur issue, and has appeared on BBC News World and Al Jazeera. He has published op-eds in Foreign Policy, The Guardian, The Independent, and Open Global Rights, among other outlets.
Prior to co-founding NUR, Irwin served in research and advocacy roles at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, most recently as Associate Director, where he led internationally recognized research projects, directed the organization’s communications strategy, and coordinated multilateral advocacy at the UN and elsewhere. Before that, he served as Program Manager and Spokesperson for the World Uyghur Congress. Irwin grew up in Canada and holds an M.Sc. in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).