Accra: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Awa Dabo of Gambia as the new Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. She will take over from Nada Al Nashif of Jordan, who has been acknowledged for her significant contributions to the organization, particularly during challenging times marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent financial difficulties. According to EMM, Awa Dabo brings a wealth of experience in human rights, crisis recovery, peacebuilding, and development. Her UN career features several senior positions, including her most recent role as Director and Deputy Head of the UN's Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. In this capacity, she has been instrumental in developing peacebuilding strategies and fostering partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders. Before this, Ms. Dabo served as Chief of Country Oversight and Support for the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, and as Senior Adviser and Head of the Crisis and Fragility Policy an d Engagement Team for UNDP's Crisis Bureau. Her career also includes roles such as Country Director for UNDP in Tanzania and Regional Programme Manager at UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. Ms. Dabo's UN journey began as a UN Volunteer, and she has also worked with various other UN and non-UN entities, including the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the African Society of International and Comparative Law. She holds a Master of Laws in international human rights law from the University of Nottingham, and is proficient in multiple languages including English, Krio, Mandinka, Pidgin, and Wolof.