Mr Ivan Šimonović

Between 2016 and 2018, Mr. Šimonović served in the United Nations as Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Special Adviser to the Secretary‑General on the Responsibility to Protect, while pursuing his academic career as Senior Visiting Scholar and Fellow at Columbia University.  From 2010 to 2016, he was the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and Head of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr. Šimonović was his country’s Minister for Justice between 2008 and 2010, having previously served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2004.  He served an earlier stint as Croatia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, from 1996 to 2002.

In earlier service within the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Šimonović held the positions of Assistant Minister for the United Nations, European Integration and Peace and Security from 1994 to 1995, and Assistant Foreign Minister for International Law, Consular Affairs and Human Rights from 1992 until 1993.

The holder of a PhD in law from the University of Zagreb, Mr. Šimonović also earned a master’s degree in public administration and politics, and a Bachelor of Laws from the same institution

In July 2017, Ivan was conferred the title of Honorary Professor by the University of Queensland.