,, UNITED NATIONS • NATIONS UNIES POSTAL ADDRESS - ADRESSE POSTALE: UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.10017 CABLE ADDRESS - ADRESSE TELEGRAPHIQUE : UNATIONS NEWYORK EXECUTNE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL REFERENCE: 8 May 2008 Dear Professor Gutto, On behalf of the Secretary-General, I would like to thank you for your letter of23April2008 supporting the candidacy of Mr. Adama Dieng for the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Please be assured that due note will be taken of its contents. Yours sincerely, ~0, Vij y N ambiar :__----­ Che de Cabinet Professor Shadrack Gutto Chair and Director-General Centre for African Renaissance Studies (CARS) University of South Africa (UNISA) and Coordinator of the African Coalition for Reform of International Institutions Pretoria EOSG I CENTRAL H.E. Dr Ban Ki-moon United Nations Secretary General 23'd April 2008 Your Excellency. Mr. Secretary-General. The African Coalition for Reform of l nte rn ati ot=tu"'""l ~l=n s=·r=it=u=ti =on,_,s"--· _,_w "".'"""""'"--'-'=-""'--""'-'=-"'---"'-"'-' you its views on the vacancy as of June 2008 oLlhe__ position nL.I.luittd.JSmfiuns=High _Commissionet tor 1"lt1man Rights. Following the outcome of a consu ltati v<c process. th Coalition pu~ forwar Mr, ~t.\£lama Dieng (Senegal). v-.ho is UN Assistant Secretary· Generahnd current egisttnr f the international Criminal Tribunal for R.wanda OC If), as C!lndidatc_for th · osifiott. Tht· Afncan <. oalition !tw {efonn of International lnstitut1tm'i has been es!oh!ished t@ sCfRDon the democratization of international institut,ions ana to ensure thar A rica 's an A fhcans' interest" are adt'quatcl} represented :>.v ithin these i t1!utions More speciflc~llly, the object is to embark on a comprehensive audit of the posttionmg of .Afri cans in high­ level poli cy making and management positions in all international insti!lltions. starting with the UN system. The initiative to establish the Coalition wus taken by the Centre fbr Afr ican RenaissMCC Studies {CARS} at the University of South Africa (UNISA), and the international and Pan African human rights organization Africa Legal Aid based in Accra, Ghana, and is now supported by several African intellectuals. professionals and institutions. So far the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has been headed by Southern America and the Caribbean (Ecuador - J. Ayala-Lasso; Brazil - S. Vieira de Mello; Guyana - B. Ramcharan, Acting High Cornmissioner). Europe (Ireland ­ M. Robinson) and Northern America (L. Arbour - Canada). I the v1ew of tile Afdcan a 't! i ·r s • n s_to reason that d~ next l-11 h 'ommissioner woufd c te r esentattve _o Afric . The Coalition has called upon African intellectuals and professional s to suggest pussible candidates with realistic chances of success and to ask them to avail themselves. · On the basis of the responses received, the Coalition concludes that the best candid ate for the position of UN High Commissioner would be Mr. Adama Dieng, who, as said, is currently the Registrar of the lCTR. The position of H' igh Comm issioner requires a variety of qualifications and experiences, including a well established record in - or at least a demonstrable commitment to human rights, and diplomatic experience both at the inter-States level and wit hin the framework ofintemational institutions. Mr. Dieng meets these requirements fully. Cel'llre For Alrican Rcnaiss.'loce Studie<; ll<>i~ Ill l.tl<M Nrt:< 131 SbMI!r Strw """""" ro b -312 !Jto!SA ()Q(}; ~ Arr><4 1.,_, >F01111ClHW/1 ~"'-~"'»170!21:WJH7 <M'>U!l: <llif$@\!IIIJ;&l>L;tl _ ............,_,., 1«••• . ,. ' . Born in l950, /\dama Di<mg commen~cd his career in hb native SerH.'t£ttl ·where he functioned mter a/in ns registrar of Senegal's Supreme Court uml persona! Assistant to its President Dieng began his intemational career in Geneva, Switzerland in 1982 al the International Commission of Jurists (IC~J) in Geneva. His tenure at the ICJ includes 1.wo terms ( IOyrs) as Secretary-General. During this period, Dieng led the international human rights movement through civil society. Dhmg was a driving force behind the establishment of the Afhcan Court on Hmnim and Peoples' Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter on Wmnen's Rights and the Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption in Africa. Mr. Dieng has led various mission<.: entrusted with tasks of ·tact­ finding, electoral assistnncc or facilitating legal reform. In 20{)1, Secretary-tieneral l<.ott Annan appointed him as Registrar at the Rwanda Tribunal. Mr. Secretary·Genernl, Afi·ica is one of the two continents that have nevet' had the opportunity to head the Office of the High Commissioner. The African Coalition for Refom1 of fnternatio·nal Institutions is of course aware of the possibility that some African Governments may have nominated some other African expert tor the position, but, on the basis of our objective view, we submit that Mr. Dieng is the ideal candidate for t.he position. Yours sincerely, Prof Shadrack Gutto Chair and Director: Centre for African Renaissance Studies (CARS) University of South Africa (UN ISA} unci Coordinator of the African Coalrtion tbr Reform oftnternationa.l lnstitutions NGO in Special Consultative Observer Status with the African Observer Status with the Status with the Economic and Commission on Human and International Criminal Tribunal Social Council of the United Nations Peoples' Rights for Rwanda .