Ekkehard Strauss has been the Senior Human Rights Officer to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan since May 2018. Previously, he served in different functions with OHCHR in both Geneva and New York, as well as further afield. His doctoral thesis concerned the prevention of human rights violations by international organisations. Based upon this thesis, he participated in the development and implementation of preventive human rights strategies, in particular those related to the prevention of mass atrocities. His work, in support of the OSCE, the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and the OHCHR, covered Eastern and Central Europe, North and West Africa, South East Asia and the Middle East.

Dr. Strauss has published several books and articles on the capacity of the UN and other international organisations to prevent violence and conflict and he has developed strategies and best practices in this regard for the consideration of academics, human rights and humanitarian practitioners and political leaders.