Until 2023 Evans was
Professor of
Public International Law at the
University of Bristol. He has worked extensively on human rights issues for numerous international bodies and NGOs. His research interests include the
law of the sea and the international protection of
human rights, with particular focus on the
freedom of religion (for which he was knighted in 2015) and the prevention of torture. He studied law at
Regent's Park College, Oxford (1979–82 and 1983–87) for undergraduate and then for a
DPhil. He was appointed to a lectureship at the
University of Bristol in 1988 and in 1999 was appointed Professor of
Public International Law. He was Head of the School of Law 2003-05 before becoming
Dean of the Faculty of
Social Sciences and Law. In 2012 he was awarded an honorary fellowship by Bangor University Law School. He is a member of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Advisory Panel on Freedom of Religion and Belief; the
International Law Association Human Rights Law and Practice Committee; and the Board of Management of the
Association for the Prevention of Torture. Among his many roles, Sir Malcolm has served as a member and, from 2011-2020 Evans chair of the United Nations Subcommittee for the Prevention of Torture. In 2015 Evans was appointed as a member of the reconstituted panel of the
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. He was appointed
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the
2016 New Year Honours for services to torture prevention and religious freedom. In 2020, he was elected a
Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. In June 2022, he was named as the new Principal of his former
Permanent Private Hall Regent's Park College, Oxford. Evans is the first Principal not to have been an ordained Baptist minister. In 2025, Evans gave the University Sermon at
University Church of St Mary the Virgin. He is currently chair of the academic board for the college's GIC+ Project, aiming to explore religious leadership and LGBTQ+ rights, led by Prof Dr Freya Baetens. He is also on the editorial board for the Oxford Journal of Law and Religion. Evans was elected a Titular Member (
Membre titulaire) of the Institute of International Law (
Institut de Droit International) at its 2025 Session in
Rabat,
Morocco. ==Works==