David Kaye

David Kaye was the United Nations special rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression between August 2014 and July 2020. He was succeeded by Irene Khan. Kaye is clinical professor of law at the University of California, Irvine on public international law, international humanitarian law human rights and international criminal justice. He is co-director of the UCI Fair Elections and Free Speech Center working at the intersection of technology, freedom of speech and democratic deliberation. He is also the independent board chair of the Global Network Initiative. Early life and career Kaye’s early years took place in Conejo Valley during the 1970s and 80s, where he attended Westlake High School. His interest in immigrants fleeing persecution was sparked by Iranians moving into his local area due to the revolution of Iran when he was in the third grade. His undergraduate studies took place at UC Berkeley and, following law school, Kaye was employed by the State Department with a specific role working on disputes between the U.S. and Iran. In time, he moved on to nuclear non-proliferation issues and later onto international humanitarian law. From 1995 to 2005, Kaye served in the Office of Legal Adviser at the State Department, where he was responsible for issues including human rights, international humanitarian law, the use of force, international organisations, and U.S. foreign relations law. During this time Kaye was also a legal adviser to the American Embassy in The Hague. From 2005 to 2007, Kaye taught courses such as public international law, world trade, and comparative law at Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa. Kaye continued his teaching work at UCLA School of Law from 2007 to 2012, during which time he also founded and directed the first large human rights program and its clinic, and taught human rights law and international justice clinic courses focusing on accountability for serious human rights violations.