Named in 2006 by Time Magazine as one of “the 100 most influential people of the 20th century,” Jan Egeland’s compassion and deep commitment to humanitarian, human rights, and peace work spans more than 25 years. He currently is the deputy director of Human Rights Watch and the director of Human Rights Watch Europe. In the past, he has served as the United Nation’s lead coordinator for humanitarian assistance and as secretary general of the Norwegian Red Cross. Egeland’s distinguished career also includes service to his government as state secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Egeland is the author of the book A Billion Lives: An Eyewitness Report from the Frontlines of Humanity(2008).