The Global Detention Project’s Executive Committee today announces a leadership change, with the appointment of Kirsten Sandberg as the Board’s Interim President, replacing Sahar Okhovat.
The former Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Ms. Sandberg joined the GDP’s Executive Committee in 2019. She has been an unwavering source of support for the association, contributing her extensive expertise as a child right’s specialist to help strengthen the GDP’s work. Among her achievements during her tenure at the CRC was overseeing the Committee’s participation with the Committee on Migrant Workers in producing the seminal Joint General Comment on state obligations to children in international migration, which has served as an important resource for the GDP in its efforts to encourage states to stop detaining children and their families for immigration purposes. Ms. Sandberg currently serves as Head of the University of Oslo’s Department of Public and International Law.
The GDP team and members look forward to working with Ms. Sandberg more closely, as she steps into the role of Interim President.
The previous president, Sahar Okhovat, served in that role since 2022. Ms. Okhovat guided the association during a period of significant organisational change and disruption stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Her steady encouragement and constant support, for both the Executive Committee and GDP staff, has provided us with an important cornerstone, helping us to sustain and advance our work at every level. Currently a research officer for the Inspector of Custodial Services in New South Wales, Australia, Ms. Okhovat will continue to provide guidance and input for the GDP association as a member of its Board and Executive Committee.
The GDP team would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Okhovat for her work as president. We look forward to continuing our work with her as member of the GDP’s leadership team.
NB: Members of the Executive Committee serve in an individual capacity. We have included their organisational affiliations purely for the purpose of identification.
