The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Beirut has appointed Roueida El Hage as the new Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region as of 1 October 2018.

She comes with over 20 years of experience in human rights and has extensive knowledge of international law and political affairs with the United Nations, in particular in conflict context in MENA, Asia and Africa.  

In her previous incarnations, Ms. El Hage was deployed in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, the Philippines, and Western Sahara. 

Prior to this appointment, Ms. El Hage served as Coordinator of the Secretariat of the Group of Eminent Experts on Yemen, deputy Director of the Human Rights Component (UNAMI) in Iraq and Chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Human Rights Regional Office in Northern Iraq, Acting Chief of MENA Section at OHCHR in Geneva, among other functions including with international and regional NGOs.

Ms. El Hage is fluent in Arabic, English and French.