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
Special Representatives active as of June 2022[update] include:[1]
Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Asia and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, appointed 15 September 2017
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, appointed 22 February 2022
Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), appointed 25 June 2020
Denise Brown, 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, appointed 21 March 2019
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), appointed 24 March 2020
Lizbeth Anne Cullity, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Deputy Head for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), appointed 8 January 2020
Khassim Diagne, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), appointed 26 January 2021
Barrie Lynne Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), appointed 22 December 2020
Anita Kiki Gbeho, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, appointed 30 December 2020, and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), since 28 October 2022
Daniela Kroslak, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), appointed 7 January 2022
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, appointed 18 January 2022
Khardiata Lô N'Diaye, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan with the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, appointed 18 February 2021
Alain Noudéhou, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali, appointed 28 April 2021
Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan, appointed 6 December 2021
Markus Potzel, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) for Afghanistan in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), appointed 17 June 2022
Ingeborg Richardson, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, appointed 12 May 2022
Raúl Rosende Rodriguez, Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, appointed 15 March 2022
Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq, appointed 2 July 2020
Former Special Representatives
Some of the former Special Representatives include:
Jean Arnault, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guatemala and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA) (1997–2000); Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Burundi and Head of the
United Nations Office in Burundi (BNUB) (2000–2001); Special Representative of the Secretary General in Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (2004–2006), Deputy Special Representative (2002–2003); Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Georgia and Head of the
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (2006–2008); Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (July 2017–December 2018)
Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Human Rights Defenders (2000–2008)
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)[9]
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)[10][11]
John Reedman, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Palestine (
c. 1948)[12][13]
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) (2001–2003); Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (May 2003–January 2008)
Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration (12 January 2006–9 March 2017)[8]
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 (13 June 1999–15 July 1999); Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor (December 1999–May 2002); and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq (2003–2004)
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)[3]
Special Advisers
Juan E. Méndez, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
^Benny Morris (2004). The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 328.
ISBN9780521009676.
OCLC758087792.
^Ragnar Svanström (1951). To Jerusalem by Folks Bernadotte. Cambridge: Hodder and Stoughton. p. 328.
ISBN0883553112.
OCLC758087792.