Dr. David Cohen

Biography

David Cohen has served as the founding Director of the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Stanford University since 2013. He is a leading expert in the fields of human rights, international criminal law, and transitional justice. After 35 years at UC Berkeley, Cohen transitioned to Stanford as the WSD Handa Professor of Human Rights and International Justice and a Professor of Classics. His work has involved directing numerous human rights initiatives across various countries including Indonesia, East Timor, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Rwanda, and the Philippines, particularly focused on judicial rule of law, trials, monitoring, and training programs. Currently, he co-directs projects concerning human trafficking, fair trial rights, religious freedom, and environmental rights in Indonesia. Additionally, he collaborates with the ASEAN Council of Chief Justices to develop judicial training programs addressing human trafficking and environmental regulation. His joint efforts with experts like Prof. Gary Darmstadt from the Gates Center on Gender Equality focus on capacity building for women’s leadership in Ethiopia, tackling issues such as child marriage and gender-based violence. Cohen has published extensively, with notable works on transitional justice processes and human rights issues. His recent publications reflect significant contributions to the legal analysis of human rights.

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