Ban Ki-moon appoints deputy envoys for Iraq, Liberia

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has selected David Shearer of New Zealand and Henrietta Joy Abean Nyarko Mensa-Bonsu of Ghana to serve as his deputy envoys in Iraq and Liberia, respectively, a United Nations spokesperson announced today.

Mr. Shearer will succeed Jean-Marie Fakhouri of Lebanon as Mr. Ban’s Deputy Special Representative for Iraq focusing on humanitarian, reconstruction and development issues, and will also serve as the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in the strife-torn country, spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

Most recently, Mr. Shearer served as head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Jerusalem, a post he has held since 2003. He was also the Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon from July to October 2006, providing vital leadership in support of the 900,000 people displaced during the conflict there.

Mr. Shearer brings to his new post years of experience leading humanitarian operations for the UN, including in Albania, Rwanda and Liberia, as well as several years with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the New Zealand Government.

Currently Professor and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Canada, Ms. Mensa-Bonsu brings a wide range of experience in dealing with international law issues to her new assignment as Deputy Special Representative for Liberia, focusing on the rule of law.

Ms. Mensa-Bonsu has published widely on criminal law, juvenile justice and children’s rights, and has undertaken numerous assignments at the national and international level, including those related to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the African Child and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

She currently serves on the Police Council of Ghana and was a member of the National Reconciliation Commission of Ghana.