Secretary-General Appoints Jane Holl Lute of United States as Special Coordinator on Improving United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today announced the appointment of Jane Holl Lute of the United States as Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse.

The appointment of Ms. Lute is part of a series on ongoing measures derived from the Secretary-General’s analysis of the High-Level External Independent Review Panel on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by International Peacekeeping Forces in the Central African Republic that submitted its report on 17 December 2015.  The Secretary-General is committed to ensuring that the systemic issues, fragmentation and other weaknesses identified are fully addressed in a timely manner and, in so doing, to uphold the trust that must underpin all international engagements.

During 2016, Ms. Lute will support the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General and the leadership of United Nations offices, departments, funds and programmes to better align our peacekeeping and human rights systems and to strengthen United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Ms. Lute has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Internet Security, a globally recognized independent, not-for-profit organization with the mission to identify, validate, promote and sustain best practice in cybersecurity.  She also currently serves as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for Relocation of Camp Hurriya Residents Outside of Iraq.

Previously, Ms. Lute served as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.  From 2003 to 2007 she was Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping responsible for comprehensive on-the-ground support to all United Nations peace operations worldwide, and from 2007 to 2008 she supported the Secretary-General’s establishment of the Department of Field Support, serving as acting Under-Secretary-General.  From 2008 to 2009, Ms. Lute was Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding, responsible for coordinating efforts on behalf of the Secretary-General to build sustainable peace in countries emerging from violent conflict.  Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Lute was Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund.

Ms. Lute has a PhD in political science from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.

*     This supersedes Press Release SG/A/1450-BIO/4556 of 5 January 2014.