UNHCR Iraq Representative

Jean-Nicolas Beuze

Jean-Nicolas Beuze has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of human rights (OHCHR), peacekeeping/rule of law (DPKO), child protection/education/adolescent programming (UNICEF) at UN Headquarters and in the field (Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Afghanistan, the Middle-East and North Africa region – in particular Yemen and Iraq – as well as Canada) before joining UNHCR in Iraq in October 2022.

In Iraq, he is leading the transition out of the humanitarian response to the internally displaced Iraqis due to Da’esh violence, including solutions for IDP camps, as well as refugee inclusion in public services and policies.

He was previously UNHCR Representative in Yemen (2020/21) where he worked on the protection of civilians, aid diversion and cash assistance, and in Canada (2017/19) where he focused on fundraising including with the private sector, asylum reform and economic pathways for refugees.

He had served as Deputy Representative for Protection and Inter-Agency Coordination (2013/16) in Lebanon in charge of the coordination of the response with the Government and UNDP for refugees and host communities as well as external engagement. Prior to joining UNHCR, he was the UNICEF Regional Child Protection Advisor for the MENA region (2010/13) supporting development and humanitarian country programmes in the region after having been the Deputy Director of the Human Rights Unit of UN Peace-Keeping/DPKO mission in Afghanistan/UNAMA (2008/10) where he led the UN work on the protection of civilians, elections monitoring and women’s rights. He previously worked as a Research Director in a human rights think-tank (International Council on Human Rights Policy) where he led a groundbreaking study on peace agreements and human rights/transitional justice and held various positions with OHCHR at HQ and in the field, notably as Deputy Representative in Uganda (2006/08) and assistant to the Special Rapporteur on Torture.

“UNHCR’s work in Iraq is a testament to our commitment to stand by those in their greatest time of need. It’s about building not just shelters, but hope; not just protecting refugees, but preserving human dignity. Together with the government of Iraq, we are shaping a more inclusive and resilient future for all.” – Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR Representative in Iraq”

A national of France, Jean-Nicolas Beuze has an LL.M in international human rights law from Essex University, UK, and a master’s in international relations from the Graduate Institute of International Relations, Geneva/Switzerland. He is fluent in English and French and has working knowledge of Spanish.