Special Representative of the Secretary-General
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|2025|May|lc=y}} include:
| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+Current Special Representatives !Name !Title !Date of Appointment |
| Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UNAMI |
| Kamal Kishore
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2015-03-13 |title=Leadership |url=https://unama.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNAMA |language=en}} |
| 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{{Cite news |date=2024-04-22 |title=Leadership |url=https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/leadership-0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=MINUSCA |language=en}} |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2024-03-03 |title=Leadership |url=https://unoau.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNOAU |language=en}} |
| Caroline Ziadeh
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) |19 November 2021{{Cite web |date=2016-01-18 |title=Leadership |url=https://unmik.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNMIK |language=en}} |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2015-03-13 |title=Leadership |url=https://unficyp.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNFICYP |language=en}} |
| 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) |
| El Ghassim Wane
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali |
| Nicholas Haysom
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) |
| 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) |
| Damilola Ogunbiyi
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) |
| Helen Ruth Meagher La Lime
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) |
| Najat Maalla M'jid
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children (SRSG/VAC){{Cite web |title=UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children {{!}} |url=https://violenceagainstchildren.un.org |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=violenceagainstchildren.un.org}} |
| Carlos Ruiz Massieu
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia |
| Pramila Patten
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG/SVC) |
| Virginia Gamba de Potgieter
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG/CAAC){{Cite web |last=Vinet |first=Fabienne |title=Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict – Children and Armed Conflict |url=https://childrenandarmedconflict.un.org |access-date=2025-05-17 |language=en-US}} |
= Current Deputy Special Representatives =
Deputy Special Representatives active {{As of|2025|May|lc=y}} include:
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|+Current Deputy Special Representatives !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{{Cite web |date=2015-03-13 |title=Leadership |url=https://unama.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNAMA |language=en}} |
| Barrie Freeman
|Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2015-03-13 |title=Leadership |url=https://unmiss.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNMISS |language=en}} |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2015-03-13 |title=Leadership |url=https://unama.unmissions.org/leadership |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=UNAMA |language=en}} |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Leadership |url=https://minusca.unmissions.org/en/leadership-0 |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=MINUSCA |language=en}} |
| 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 |
| Raúl Rosende Rodriguez
|Deputy Special Representative (DSRSG) and Deputy Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
Former Special Representatives
Some of the former Special Representatives include:
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|+Former Special Representatives !Name !Title !Appointment period |
| Martti Ahtisaari
|United Nations Commissioner for Namibia | |
| Jean Arnault
| | |
| 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{{Cite web |title=United Nations Population Division {{!}} Department of Economic and Social Affairs |url=https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/partners/srsg.asp |access-date=2019-06-19 |website=www.un.org |language=EN}} |
| 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
| | |
| 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{{cite web |date=18 January 1962 |title=The question of Palestine |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-211235/ |access-date=11 October 2024 |website=United Nations}}{{cite web |date=1 February 1963 |title=The question of Palestine: Resignation of the Special Representative of UNCCP |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-213113/ |access-date=11 October 2024 |website=United Nations}} |
| 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{{Cite web |date=2015-11-23 |title=Secretary-General Appoints Michael Keating of United Kingdom Special Representative for Somalia |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sga1609.doc.htm |access-date=2017-11-13 |language=en}} |
| Jacques Paul Klein
|Special Representative of the Secretary General for the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| 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{{cite web |title=Secretary-General Appoints Deborah Lyons of Canada Special Representative, Head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan |url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/sga1952.doc.htm |access-date=14 April 2020 |website=The U tied Nations}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-16 |title=UN Special Representative Deborah Lyons' farewell statement to the people of Afghanistan |url=https://unama.unmissions.org/un-special-representative-deborah-lyons%E2%80%99-farewell-statement-people-afghanistan |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan |language=en}} |
| Ian Martin
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of United Nations Mission in Nepal | |
| 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 |{{Circa|1948}}{{cite book |author=Benny Morris |title=The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited |date=2004 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9780521009676 |publication-place=Cambridge |page=328 |oclc=758087792}}{{cite book |author=Ragnar Svanström |title=To Jerusalem by Folks Bernadotte |date=1951 |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |isbn=0883553112 |publication-place=Cambridge |page=328 |oclc=758087792}} |
| John Ruggie
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises |2005 - 2011 |
| William L. Swing
| | |
| Peter Sutherland
|Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration |
| 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
| | |
| 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) |
Special Advisers
- Juan E. Méndez, Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
See also
References
{{Reflist}}