U.N. NEWS CENTRE
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously approved Prince Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein of Jordan as the new high commissioner for human rights in June 2014, succeeding Navi Pillay of South Africa.
“I am going to be the first high commissioner from the Asian continent and from the Muslim and Arab worlds,” Prince Zeid said after the 193-member body approved his appointment by consensus.
“Needless to say, this reflects the commitment of the international community toward this important dossier and its commitment to push it forward in this continent as well as in other regions of the world,” he added.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon nominated Prince Zeid, who is currently Jordan’s permanent representative to the U.N., to replace Pillay.
Headquartered in Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is mandated to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by all people, of all rights established in the U.N. Charter and in international human rights laws and treaties.
The mandate includes preventing human rights violations, securing respect for all human rights, promoting international cooperation to protect human rights, coordinating related activities throughout the U.N., and strengthening and streamlining the U.N. system in the field of human rights. In addition to its mandated responsibilities, the office leads efforts to integrate a human rights approach within all work carried out by U.N. agencies.