Leah Hoctor

Leah is the Senior Regional Director for Europe at the Center for Reproductive Rights, leading the Center’s work across the European region. Leah has a legal background, but much of her work now is at the intersection of legal, advocacy, partnership and communication strategies designed to advance law reform on sexual and reproductive rights and prevent retrogression. Together with her colleagues, Leah works with advocates and human rights defenders across Europe to advance and protect reproductive rights, spearheading and supporting national law-reform strategies and multilateral engagement before the European Union, Council of Europe and United Nations.

Leah is a frequent public speaker and has published widely on reproductive rights, international human rights law, women’s access to justice and corporate accountability.

Leah received a Bachelor of Law degree from the National University of Ireland, University College Dublin, and a Master of Law degree in international human rights law from the University of Lund, Sweden (Raoul Wallenberg Institute). Before joining the Center Leah worked for many years with the International Commission of Jurists, where she was a Senior Legal Advisor, leading work on corporate accountability, women’s human rights and access to justice. She also worked for a short time with the Human Rights Unit of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.