Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Georgette Gagnon of Canada as the new Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), according to a statement released by the United Nations.
Gagnon succeeds Markus Potzel of Germany, bringing over 28 years of experience in peacebuilding, human rights, and development in conflict and post-conflict zones. Her extensive background includes leadership in humanitarian action and strategic initiatives aimed at promoting peace and development.
Since 2021, Gagnon has served as the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya in the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), as well as Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya. Prior to that, she held the role of Director of Field Operations and Technical Cooperation at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), where she oversaw the Office’s field operations globally.
Notably, Gagnon is no stranger to Afghanistan. From 2010 to 2015, she served as Director of Human Rights for UNAMA in Kabul. Her career also includes roles as Director and Senior Adviser on the protection of civilians, human rights, and the rule of law with the United Nations, various national governments, and non-governmental organizations across Africa, Syria, and the Balkans.
A Canadian national, Gagnon holds a Bachelor of Laws from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto and a Master of Laws in International Human Rights Law from the University of Essex in the United Kingdom.
Her appointment comes at a challenging time for Afghanistan, where the political landscape remains fractured under the Taliban’s unrecognized government. The country faces an escalating human rights crisis, adding urgency to UNAMA’s mission to support stability and human rights in the region.
