Dan Yakir is a prominent Israeli human rights lawyer and civil rights activist, best known as the Chief Legal Counsel (also referred to as legal advisor) for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), Israel's oldest and largest human rights NGO. Born on June 23, 1953, he has served in this role since 1982, dedicating his career to defending civil liberties, equality, and democratic values in Israel. Yakir specializes in human rights law, leading numerous landmark legal challenges against government policies perceived as infringing on fundamental rights. His work focuses on protecting privacy, freedom of expression, and minority rights, often petitioning the Israeli Supreme Court on behalf of marginalized groups, including Arab Israelis, Palestinians in the occupied territories, refugees, protesters, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and asylum seekers. He has been instrumental in high-profile cases challenging biometric identification laws, excessive police powers, surveillance practices, administrative detention without trial, discriminatory policies, the Nation-State Law's implications for non-Jewish citizens, restrictions on public demonstrations, and defenses of journalists and activists facing censorship or arrest. Throughout his career, Yakir has contributed to shaping Israeli jurisprudence on human rights, co-authoring reports and legal briefs that highlight systemic issues like freedom of movement restrictions. He has engaged in public advocacy through media discussions and international forums to raise awareness about civil rights erosion in Israel. Despite facing criticism from security hawks and right-wing groups for his progressive stances, Yakir remains a respected and steadfast advocate in legal and activist circles, committed to upholding democratic principles and the rule of law amid ongoing conflicts and politically charged environments.