Alfred Métraux (French pronunciation: [alfʁɛd metʁo]; 5 November 1902 – 12 April 1963) was a Swiss and Argentine anthropologist, ethnologist and human rights leader.

Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Métraux spent much of his childhood in Argentina where his father was a well-known surgeon resident in Mendoza.

His interest for anthropology and original languages, began early in his life when his father a medical doctor took an overseas appointment, relocating his family from Lausanne Switzerland to Mendoza Argentina.

As the editor, Julian Steward, acknowledges, "The extent of his (Métraux's) contribution is by no means indicated by the large number of articles appearing under his name.

With an unsurpassed knowledge of South American ethnology and ever generous of his time, his advice and help to the editor and contributors alike have been a major factor in the successful completion of the work."

He also organized the research that led to a series of volumes on race relations in Brazil, such as "As relações raciais entre negros a brancos em São Paulo," edited by Roger Bastide and Florestan Fernandes (São Paulo, 1955), Race and Class in Rural Brazil, edited by Charles Wagley (UNESCO, Paris, 1952), and others.

At UNESCO, he was responsible for the participation of anthropologists in many important projects around the world, and he consistently emphasized the anthropological point of view in all of the many programs with which he was associated.

Yet, one felt that he was too restless and too eager to be on his way to produce detailed and lengthy field reports such as those of Curt Nimuendajú on the Brazilian Gê.

Métraux published landmark studies of South American Indians including the Incas, Haitian voodoo and the ancient cultures of Easter Island.

of Social Sciences at [UNESCO], he presided over a series of studies which resulted in several publications aiming to prove the absence of scientific foundation to theories of racial superiority.

A dedicated anthropologist and humanitarian, he brought the brilliance of South American Indian cultures to light, solved the mysteries of Easter Island, taught the world about Voodoo, and defined the United Nations' stand against racism.

[5] At the time of his death, he was Professor of South American Anthropology at the École Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Paris.