HAMILTON, Canada 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday appointed Awa Dabo of Gambia as deputy high commissioner for human rights, according to a UN statement.

Dabo succeeds Nada Al Nashif of Jordan, whom the statement said the secretary-general and the high commissioner for human rights thanked for her service, including her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent financial crisis and efforts to advance UN "management and partnership reform priorities."

The statement said Dabo brings extensive experience in human rights, crisis recovery, peacebuilding and prevention, humanitarian affairs and development.

She most recently served as director and deputy head of the UN Peace Building and Peace Support Office and previously held senior posts at the UN Development Programme, including as country director in Tanzania. Dabo has also worked with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.