November 1, 2025 — The International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net) is delighted to announce the appointment of Misun Woo as its new Executive Director, succeeding Chris Grove, who has led the Network for more than a decade with vision and dedication.
With over two decades of experience in the fields of feminism, human rights, and refugee movements, Misun brings a strong commitment to intersectional, cross-regional, and intergenerational movement building, grounded in solidarity and collective action for systemic change.
Before joining ESCR-Net, Misun served as Regional Coordinator of the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), a feminist, membership-driven network dedicated to advancing women’s human rights and Development Justice. During her 17 years with APWLD, including seven as Regional Coordinator, she helped shape the organization’s feminist vision and led its secretariat through periods of challenge and growth—always centering grassroots women, amplifying their voices, and connecting movements across borders.
Her leadership has been characterized by a deep commitment to feminist principles of care, solidarity, and sisterhood. She has been instrumental in building transnational advocacy to advance gender, climate, and economic justice, and has played a key role in linking feminist and people’s movements across Asia-Pacific and beyond.
I am thrilled and honored to join ESCR-Net Secretariat, especially at a time when the world seems to be rushing into an apocalypse, with intensified convergence of colonial and neo-colonial powers at play. It is most often during the darkest times and multiple crises that our movements offer clarity and take collective steps forward with hope. ESCR-Net, as one of the few truly member-led global networks, is uniquely positioned to play a critical role in connecting diverse struggles across regions; organizing movements to articulate solutions and reclaim ways of living and being that have been lost due to domination and oppression; and connecting movement stories and solutions both vertically and horizontally so we can co-imagine and build a new future together. I look forward to co-creating intentional spaces with ESCR-Net members and their broader communities to connect people’s realities, resistances, solutions, and visions for the genuine liberation of all peoples and our planet.” said Misun Woo.
Debbie Stothard, Chair of the ESCR-Net Board, shared: “While we are sad to see Chris Grove leave and appreciate his immense contributions over his years at ESCR-Net, we are absolutely excited to welcome Misun to the role of Executive Director.
Misun has been actively engaged in ESCR-Net’s collective work for many years, so it feels like welcoming a member of the family to the Secretariat. Her leadership will further strengthen the principles of decolonization, inclusion, and feminism that guide our Network. Her determination, commitment, and deep analysis will be invaluable as we continue to stand together with grassroots movements to resist attacks and advance transformative solutions.”
As ESCR-Net enters this new chapter, the Network reaffirms its collective mission “to build a global movement to make human rights and social justice a reality for all.”
