Sophie Magennis

Sophie Magennis is Head of the Policy and Legal Support Unit at UNHCR’s Regional Representation for EU Affairs in Brussels. Prior to her appointment, she was UNHCR’s Head of Office in Ireland. Previously, she was Head of Policy and Legislation at the Irish Ombudsman for Children’s Office and Administrator of the Irish Human Rights Commission. She co-founded Human Rights Consultants in 2000. Prior to that, she served as Deputy to the Irish Ambassador to the Council of Europe. She has worked with the Council of Europe as Legal Consultant to the Monitoring Unit of the Secretary General and as a Legal Expert at the Council of Europe’s Section for Equality between Women and Men. She is an Attorney and Counselor at Law at the New York State Bar and holds a European Masters Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation from the European Inter-University Centre in Venice, Italy.