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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Longstanding journalist, Randa Habib, has been appointed as Amnesty International’s new Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, based in Beirut.

The appointment comes as the organization prepares to expand its operations throughout the region in order to strengthen its human rights work and its impact on the ground. The organization will increase its research, campaigning and advocacy presence in Beirut, Tunis and East Jerusalem over the coming year.

“We are delighted to welcome Randa Habib on board to lead the expansion of Amnesty International’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa,” said Minar Pimple, Senior Director of Global Operations at Amnesty International.

“As a long-time journalist, she has decades of experience of working in a region that is no stranger to conflict and gross human rights violations. Randa’s deep understanding of the region and extensive knowledge of the media landscape will help Amnesty International raise the voices of victims of human rights abuses more effectively and boost its ability to campaign for their rights to be protected.”

Randa Habib has 35 years of experience as a journalist based in the Middle East. Since 2012 she has been Director for the Middle East and North Africa for the Agence France Presse (AFP) Foundation, an organization that trains and supports journalists and defends freedom of the press. Prior to that she spent more than two decades as bureau chief for AFP in Amman, Jordan.

During her time as a journalist Randa reported from Iraq as well as other hotspots and conflict zones throughout the region and interviewed several heads of states. In 2008 she was awarded the highest French award la Légion d'Honneur. She is also a member of the Jordan Media Institute, a non-profit organization aimed at improving standards of journalism in the Middle East.

“The increased presence of Amnesty International in the Middle East and North Africa should play an important role in enhancing scrutiny of human rights across the region,” said Randa Habib.

“In a region all too often marred by widespread human rights abuses, Amnesty International is strengthening its presence on the ground with the aim of deepening its contribution, alongside activists across the region, to defending human rights throughout the Middle East and North Africa.”