Challenges to Human Rights in 2015 and Beyond

Talk by

Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Monday, October 19, 2015

Program 6:00 PM

Reception to follow

Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein took office in September 2014 as the seventh UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a post established by the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights as the principal human rights official in the UN system. His office has some 1100 staff members based in Geneva, New York and in 13 country offices and 13 regional offices or centers around the world. 700 more international human rights officers serve in UN peace missions or political offices.

While serving variously as Jordan’s Ambassador to the UN, the United States and Mexico during the years 1996-2014, Zeid was a leader in many international efforts to advance human rights, including as President of the Assembly of State Parties of the International Criminal Court and Chair the Consultative Committee for the United Nations Development Fund for Women. He holds a PhD from Cambridge University.