Irene Khan hires lawyers to clarify payment details

21 Mar 2011 News

Irene Khan, the former Amnesty International Ltd secretary-general, has instructed lawyers to clarify details about the salary and severance package paid to her when she left the organisation.

Irene Khan

Irene Khan, the former Amnesty International Ltd secretary-general, has instructed lawyers to clarify details about the salary and severance package paid to her when she left the organisation.

Solicitors Russell Jones & Walker wrote to Civil Society today to say that it was not accurate of Amnesty International to record in its 2009/10 accounts that the amount of £532,000 was paid to Khan as remuneration for that year alone.

They said the sum included income that Khan was owed for several years previously, and payment for several different purposes.

They also said that Amnesty International Ltd’s salary scale for all staff including Khan was assessed by an independent agency and benchmarked against similar international NGOs. Khan’s salary was set by the International Executive of Amnesty International according to that pay scale.

And they quoted a statement from AI chair Peter Pack, who said of Khan: “We recognise the considerable and impressive changes you have achieved, and the strong, decisive leadership you provide.”

Read the full letter here.