Biographical Note

Rabab Fatima, the new Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, presented her credentials to UN Secretary‑General António Guterres today.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Ilze Brands Kehris of Latvia as Assistant Secretary‑General for Human Rights and Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in New York.  She will succeed Andrew Gilmour of the United Kingdom to whom the Secretary‑General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights are deeply grateful for his long‑standing contribution to the work of the Organization.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Lieutenant General Ricardo Augusto Ferreira Costa Neves of Brazil as Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Bruno Lemarquis of France as his Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).  He will also serve as the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti.

In Madrid today, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Mark Joseph Carney of Canada as his Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres has appointed Anriette Esterhuysen of South Africa ‎as the new Chair of the Internet Governance Forum’s Multi‑Stakeholder Advisory Group.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Mario Samaja of Italy as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Paraguay, with the host Government’s approval.

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt as the next Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).  Ms. Waly will also serve as Director‑General of the United Nations Office at Vienna.  She succeeds Yury V. Fedotov of the Russian Federation, to whom the Secretary‑General is grateful for his dedicated service to the Organization.

The new Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Kimihiro Ishikane, presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres today.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Kanni Wignaraja of Sri Lanka as the next Assistant Secretary‑General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).