Mr. Steve Onwuasoanya

Mr. Steve Onwuasoanya, a distinguished international human rights lawyer and scholar with over two decades of leadership experience at the highest levels of inter-governmental organizations, including the United Nations. Mr. Onwuasoanya served as the Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, and led the organization's strategic work in advancing human rights, democracy, and the rule of law across its 56-member states.

He acted as the principal advisor to the Secretary-General and senior management on critical human rights matters, and he directed capacity-building programmes that assisted Commonwealth governments in upholding their international human rights commitments. Mr. Onwuasoanya's remarkable career includes over a decade of frontline service with the United Nations, where he held senior protection roles in complex post-conflict environments. He led the UN's rule of law coordination efforts at headquarters in New York and was instrumental in designing and implementing protection strategies that facilitated the voluntary, safe and dignified return of over 100,000 internaly displaced persons in Sudan and Timor-Leste.

Mr. Onwuasoanya's expertise spans the globe, from Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to the Caribbean and Europe. He has spearheaded transformative human rights initiatives, helped establish, operationalise, and strengthen numerous 'A' status National Human Rights Institutions, and provided high-level legal and policy advice to governments. A widely respected communicator and thought leader, his work is driven by a steadfast commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and justice for all.

His academic credentials provide strong foundation for his practical expertise. He holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Law and Justice from Fordham University School of Law in New York, a Postgraduate Certificate in Global Affairs from New York University (NYU), a Postgraduate Certificate in International Human Rights Law from the prestigious Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B. Hons) from the University of Lagos.

Mr. Onwuasoanya is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. At the World Consumer Rights Day 2026, he was ICRP's keynote speaker. His keynote topic was "the intersection of international human rights framework and consumer rights: the Nigerian morass".