On September 3, 2024, United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres appointed Georgette Gagnon of Canada as the new Deputy Special Representative in charge of political affairs in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). She succeeds Markus Potzel of Germany.
A statement from the Spokesperson of UNSG noted, Gagnon brings over 28 years of experience in peacebuilding, human rights, and development in conflict zones. Since 2021, she served as Deputy Special Representative and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya in the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Before that, she directed field operations at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and served as Director of Human Rights in Kabul for UNAMA from 2010 to 2015.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, and a Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex.
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The Secretary-General also thanked Potzel for his dedicated service.
