New UN high commissioner for human rights nominated

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon nominated Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan as the new UN high commissioner for human rights.

"The secretary-general, following consultations with the chairmen of the regional groups of member states, today informed the General Assembly of his intention to appoint Prince Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan as the new UN human rights chief," Xinhua quoted a statement released by the UN on Friday, as saying.

If approved by the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Zeid Al-Hussein will replace the current High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay, who took up the post Sep 1, 2008.

Pillay's mandate has been renewed for two years which began Sep 1, 2012 and is due to step down Aug 31, 2014.

Zeid Al-Hussein is currently Jordan's Permanent Representative to the UN, a post he also held previously from 2000 to 2007.

According to the statement, from 2007 to 2010, Zeid Al-Hussein served as Jordan's Ambassador to the US and non-resident Ambassador to Mexico.

He also served as Jordan's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, with the rank of ambassador, from 1996 to 2000.

The post of High Commissioner for Human Rights was established by UNGA in 1993 to promote and protect the effective enjoyment by all people of all civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, including the right to development.