John Packer served from 1991-96 as a United Nations human rights officer investigating human rights violations in Iraq. In 2003-2004, he was visiting assistant professor of international law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and a fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. He is on the board of the Minority Rights Group (International) and is associate editor of the Human Rights Law Journal.

Recent articles

The images of American soldiers abusing prisoners have made Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad notorious around the world. But the latest violations would not have occurred if those responsible had known the building's history. John Packer, who inspected Abu Ghraib for the United Nations in 1992, reflects on lessons unlearned.