TIME100 AI 2026 · Shapers
Wafa Ben-Hassine
Chief, Digital Technology and Human Rights Section, OHCHR
An international lawyer who has worked with the UN human rights office, she helped draft the preamble of Tunisia's post-revolution constitution.
- Born
- Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
- Now
- Chief, Digital Technology and Human Rights Section, OHCHR
- Studied
- University of Denver, UC San Diego
Interesting facts
- Early start
Was a legislative aide in Tunisia's first democratically elected parliament in 2012 and helped draft the preamble of its new constitution.
wafabenhassine.com - First
The UN Human Rights Office's first-ever chief of digital technology and human rights, a role she took in 2026.
time.com - Numbers
Co-created Humanity AI, a coalition of foundations that pooled some $500 million for humane uses of AI.
weforum.org - Early start
Was student body president at UC San Diego in 2010-11.
wafabenhassine.com - Side project
Co-founded LEAD Tunisia, a nonprofit working to improve graduate legal education in the country.
wafabenhassine.com
Career
- OHCHRChief, Digital Technology and Human Rights Section, Digital Technology and Human Rights Section2019 to now
- Omidyar NetworkDirector, Programs and Policy2020–2026
- HiiLMENA Lead, Justice Accelerator2020
- International Finance CorporationConsultant2019–2020
- UNESCOExpert Consultant2019–2020
- Access NowGlobal Policy Counsel and MENA Policy Manager2016–2019
- NawaatColumnist2012–2013
- Tunisian Constituent AssemblyLegislative Aide2012
- Tunisia LiveEditor in Chief2011–2012
Education
- JD, International law, University of Denver
- BA, Political science (public law), UC San Diego