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Foreign Minister Steinmeier congratulates Prince Zeid on his appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Foreign Minister Frank‑Walter Steinmeier today (17 June) issued the following statement on the appointment of Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al‑Hussein of Jordan as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
I would like to warmly congratulate Prince Zeid on his appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and wish him a sure hand and every success in his responsible new office. It is notable that Prince Zeid is the first representative of an Arab country to take on this important function.
Navi Pillay has earned the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights high recognition for this very important work. I am confident that on taking over from her in September Prince Zeid will continue in that spirit.
Background information:
On 16 June 2014, the United Nations General Assembly approved Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al‑Hussein of Jordan as the next United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Prince Zeid will assume his new office on 1 September 2014.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has a special role to play – he acts as guardian of human rights and gives victims of human rights violations a voice at international level. Since 2008, the South African Navanethem (Navi) Pillay has performed this task. Prince Zeid is the first representative of the Asian and Arab group of countries to hold the office of High Commissioner.
Prince Zeid has acquired extensive experience in the United Nations system, e.g. as Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 2000 and 2007 and again since 2010.