Brussels, 17/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 16 June, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton welcomed the appointment of Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein as new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Prince Zeid has a proven track record at the United Nations, in human rights and as a strong advocate for international justice”, Ashton's spokesperson underlined in a press release. “The EU looks forward to a fruitful cooperation with the new high commissioner”, the spokesperson added. Prince Zeid, from Jordan, is the first high commissioner for human rights to come from the Muslim and Arab worlds.
The EU is confident that, with the appointment of Prince Zeid, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights “will be well placed to continue to play a lead role in advancing and strengthening respect for human rights worldwide”.
Ashton's spokesperson paid special tribute to the outgoing high commissioner, Navanethem Pillay, “for her tireless work over the last six years to protect and promote human rights globally”. The spokesperson particularly commended the expansion of the field presences during Pillay's mandate and her efforts to mainstream human rights across the United Nations system. Pillay took up her post on 1 September 2008 and her mandate was renewed for a further two years in 2012 until 31 August 2014. The high commissioner is appointed by the secretary general, subject to the approval of the General Assembly, for a mandate of four years, which can be renewed once.
“The EU is a strong supporter of the Office of the High Commissioner, its independence and integrity, as well as the UN's work in the area of human rights more broadly”, Ashton's spokesperson stated. The post of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was created in 1993. (CG)