Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Elinor Jane Britt Hammarskj?ld of Sweden as Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel.?
She succeeds Miguel de Serpa Soares of Portugal to whom the Secretary-General is deeply grateful for his dedicated service and long-standing commitment to the Organization.
The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to Stephen Mathias, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs who will continue to serve as Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel until Ms. Hammarskj?ld assumes her position.
Currently serving as Director-General for Legal Affairs of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Head of the Legal Department, Ms. Hammarskj?ld has over thirty years of experience in security policy, international law, human rights and treaty law.?
She has been a member of the Ministry’s senior management team for over ten years, serving in various capacities, including as Director-General for Political Affairs, Deputy Director in the Department for European Security Policy, Human Resources Director, and Ambassador of Sweden to Israel.?
She also served at the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations in New York.
Ms. Hammarskj?ld holds a Master of Laws in international law from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (1992) and University of Uppsala, Sweden (1991).
She has completed University courses in Peace and conflict research at the University of Uppsala (1991) as well as in French and literature at the University of Stockholm, Sweden (1985).? Ms. Hammarskj?ld is fluent in English and Swedish, and speaks French and Spanish.
