Julien ATTAKLA-AYINON

Mr. Julien Attakla-Ayinon, the Acting Uganda OHCHR Country Representative has until recently been working as Senior Human Rights Officer and Coordinator of the OHCHR Project supporting the G5 Sahel Joint Force with the implementation of the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Compliance Framework. He was based in Bamako coordinating Project teams and activities in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Chad. Prior to this, he served in Human Rights components of UN peace operations (in the DRC and Burundi), in OHCHR country offices in Togo and with UNDP Gambia as Senior Adviser for Rule of Law and Transitional Justice - Joint OHCHR/UNDP PBF Project Coordinator. During his tenure, he provided support to the Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Justice, the National Assembly and Civil Society Organizations, enhancing national capacities as the country was transitioning from 22 years dictatorship to a democratic dispensation.

Mr. Attakla-Ayinon has worked for the UN for the past 15 years in the field of human rights and on few occasions in transitional justice. He brings with him a rich and diverse 31 years of professional experience of which at least 27 years are directly related to the field of human rights, development, gender equality, and good governance both at the national and international levels. He has been in charge of human right promotion and protection activities including investigations in crisis or post-conflict contexts and in charge of technical cooperation portfolio for several years, where he provided advisory and capacity building services to UN colleagues, civil society organizations and various Government entities (Parliament, Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, security and Defence Forces, etc.) in host countries.  He has significant Program management skills and experience, which will benefit the Uganda Country Office. He holds an LL.M. Degree in International Law and Comparative Law from the James Beasley School of Law (Temple University, USA – 23 May 2002).