Special Representative of the Secretary-General
(Redirected from UN Special Representative)
A special representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent them in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues. The representatives can carry out country visits to investigate alleged violations of human rights and act as negotiators on behalf of the United Nations.
Current Special Representatives
[edit]Special Representatives active as of May 2025[update] include:
| Name | Title | Date of Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UNAMI | 10 October 2024[1] |
| Kamal Kishore | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) | 27 March 2024[2] |
| Kaha Imnadze | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia | 14 June 2023[3] |
| Leonardo Santos Simao | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel | 02 May 2023[4] |
| María Isabel Salvador | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) | 01 March 2023 |
| Roza Otunbayeva | Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) | 02 September 2022[5] |
| Valentine Rugwabiza | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) | 23 February 2022[6] |
| Parfait Onanga-Anyanga | Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union | 22 February 2022[7] |
| Caroline Ziadeh | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) | 19 November 2021[8] |
| Colin Stewart | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and Deputy to the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus | 04 November 2021[9] |
| Alexander Ivanko | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) | 27 August 2021[10] |
| El Ghassim Wane | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali | 15 March 2021[11] |
| Nicholas Haysom | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) | 15 January 2021[12] |
| Bintou Keita | Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) | 14 January 2021[13] |
| Damilola Ogunbiyi | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) | October 2019[14] |
| Helen Ruth Meagher La Lime | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) | 14 October 2019[15] |
| Najat Maalla M'jid | Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG/VAC)[16] | 30 May 2019[17] |
| Carlos Ruiz Massieu | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia | 10 December 2018[18] |
| Pramila Patten | Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG/SVC) | 12 April 2017[19] |
| Virginia Gamba de Potgieter | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG/CAAC)[20] | 12 April 2017[21] |
Current Deputy Special Representatives
[edit]Deputy Special Representatives active as of May 2025[update] include:
| Name | Title | Date of Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| Georgette Gagnon | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) | 03 September 2024[22] |
| Barrie Freeman | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel | 10 May 2024[23] |
| Anita Kiki Gbeho | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan Resident Coordinator & Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) | 08 December 2023[24] |
| Indrika Ratwatte | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Afghanistan | 07 November 2023[25] |
| Mohamed Ag Ayoya | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Central African Republic | 21 November 2022[26] |
| Ulrika Richardson | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti | 12 May 2022[27] |
| Raúl Rosende Rodriguez | Deputy Special Representative (DSRSG) and Deputy Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia | 15 March 2022[28] |
| Bruno Lemarquis | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | 18 January 2022[29] |
| Ghulam Mohammad Isaczai | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq | 19 July 2022[30] |
| Guang Cong | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) for South Sudan and Deputy Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) | 24 March 2020[31] |
Former Special Representatives
[edit]Some of the former Special Representatives include:
| Name | Title | Appointment period |
|---|---|---|
| Martti Ahtisaari | United Nations Commissioner for Namibia | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) | 1 January 1977 - 1 April 1982 | April 1989 - March 1990 |
| Jean Arnault | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guatemala and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi and Head of the United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) | Special Representative of the Secretary General in Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) | Deputy Special Representative | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia and Head of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia | 1997 - 2000 | 2000 - 2001 | 2004 - 2006 | 2002 - 2003 | 2006 - 2008 | July 2017 -December 2018 |
| José Victor da Silva Ângelo | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad | 31 January 2008 - 31 December 2010 |
| Louise Arbour | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration | 9 March 2017 - 31 December 2018[32] |
| Zainab Bangura | Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict | 22 June 2012 - 12 April 2017 |
| Natalio Ecarma III | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force in the Golan Heights | 10 March 2010 - 13 August 2013 |
| Yash Ghai | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for human rights in Cambodia | 1 November 2005 - 2008 |
| Julian Harston | Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Office in Belgrade | 1997–1999 | ? | 1999 -April 2001 | March -November 2009 |
| Sukehiro Hasegawa | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor and Head of the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor (UNMISET) and the United Nations Office in East Timor | 21 May 2004 - September 2006 |
| Hina Jilani | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights Defenders | 2000 - 2008 |
| Joseph E. Johnson | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Conciliation Commission for Palestine | 1961 - 1963[33][34] |
| Michael Keating | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) | 23 November 2015 - 1 October 2018[35] |
| Jacques Paul Klein | Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for United Nations Mission in Liberia | 2001 - 2003 | 2003 - 2005 |
| Bernard Kouchner | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo | 15 July 1999 - 12 January 2001 |
| Deborah Lyons | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) | 24 March 2020 - 16 June 2022[36][37] |
| Ian Martin | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of United Nations Mission in Nepal | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya | 2006 - 2009 | 11 September 2011 - 14 October 2012 |
| Ad Melkert | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq | 7 July 2009 - 1 October 2011 |
| David Nabarro | Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Food Security and Nutrition | 2009 - 2017 |
| Jan Pronk | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) | 1 July 2004 - 10 December 2006 |
| John Noel Reedman | Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Palestine | c. 1948[38][39] |
| John Ruggie | Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises | 2005 - 2011 |
| William L. Swing | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) | Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2001 - 2003 | May 2003 -January 2008 |
| Peter Sutherland | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration | 12 January 2006 - 9 March 2017[32] |
| James Swan | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) | 30 May 2019 - 27 October 2022 |
| Sérgio Vieira de Mello | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq | 13 June 1999 - 15 July 1999 | December 1999 - May 2002 | 2003 - 2004 |
| Mohamed Sahnoun | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Operation in Somalia I (UNOSOM I) | April - November 1992 |
| Abdallah Wafy | Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) | 2013 - 2015 |
| Leila Zerrougui | Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) | January 2018 - February 2021[40] |
Special Advisers
[edit]- Juan E. Méndez, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
See also
[edit]- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo
- Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara
- High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Special Envoy of the Secretary-General
References
[edit]- ^ "Our Team". Our Team | The United Nations in Iraq. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Our team". www.undrr.org. 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNRCCA. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Mission Leadership". UNOWAS. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNAMA. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". MINUSCA. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNOAU. 2024-03-03. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNMIK. 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNFICYP. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". MINURSO. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". MINUSMA. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNMISS. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". MONUSCO. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Damilola Ogunbiyi of Nigeria - Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All". Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ "Leadership". MINUJUSTH. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children |". violenceagainstchildren.un.org. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Najat Maalla Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UN Verification Mission in Colombia. 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ osrsgsvc. "About the Special Representative – United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict". Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ Vinet, Fabienne. "Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict – Children and Armed Conflict". Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Virginia Gamba of Argentina Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". press.un.org. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNAMA. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Ms. Barrie Freeman of the United States - Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNMISS. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNAMA. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". MINUSCA. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". BINUH. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UN Verification Mission in Colombia. 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". MONUSCO. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Our Team". Our Team | The United Nations in Iraq. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ "Leadership". UNMISS. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ a b "United Nations Population Division | Department of Economic and Social Affairs". www.un.org. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
- ^ "The question of Palestine". United Nations. 18 January 1962. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "The question of Palestine: Resignation of the Special Representative of UNCCP". United Nations. 1 February 1963. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Michael Keating of United Kingdom Special Representative for Somalia". 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
- ^ "Secretary-General Appoints Deborah Lyons of Canada Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan". The U tied Nations. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ^ "UN Special Representative Deborah Lyons' farewell statement to the people of Afghanistan". United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
- ^ Benny Morris (2004). The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 328. ISBN 9780521009676. OCLC 758087792.
- ^ Ragnar Svanström (1951). To Jerusalem by Folks Bernadotte. Cambridge: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 328. ISBN 0883553112. OCLC 758087792.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ "Ms. Bintou Keita of Guinea - Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)". United Nations Secretary-General. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2021-07-02.