A NIGERIAN, Mr. Uchenna Emelonye, has been appointed Senior Human Rights Adviser to the United Nations Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nairobi, Kenya.

Emelonye joins the UN from the International Development Law Organisation, IDLO, Rome, an intergovernmental organisation that promotes legal, regulatory and institutional reform in transitional and developing countries; where he served as the Head of Institutional and Justice Reform Programmes.

Among other things, he oversaw IDLO’s global work with governments on legal and judicial reform including providing technical support to the Committee of Experts in the drafting of 2010 Kenyan Constitution and post-constitution legislations.

He was also the focal point for IDLO’s support to the Constitutional Process of Somalia; the development of national strategies to mainstream human rights in the Justice Ministries of the Republic of Yemen and Afghanistan and the strengthening of the National Human Rights Commission of Ethiopia.

As Senior Human Rights Adviser, Emelonye will be domiciled in the office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya and advice the UN Country Team.

He will also follow up human rights developments in the Republic of Kenya; liaise with the government, state institutions as well as civil society and media on issues related to human rights, including building their awareness and capacity to protect and promote human rights.

As a member of the UN Country Team in Kenya, he will provide support to the Country Team on human rights mainstreaming, including within the framework of rights-based planning and programming initiatives.

Emelonye brings to this position over 17 years of practising and programming experience as a Human Rights Attorney.

He was a Judicial Affairs Officer and Team Leader, Rule of Law Section, UN-African Union Mission in Darfur and Human Rights Officer, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kosovo.

Emelonye was also the Chief of Party, RCN Justice & Démocratie Brussels where he implemented the European Commission Emergency Assistance to the Justice System of South Sudan. At another point in his career, he was the Protection & Rule of Law Coordinator, International Rescue Committee New York and implemented the UNDP Rule of Law and Access to Justice Project in the Horn of Africa.