The U.N. General Assembly has unanimously approved Jordan’s Ambassador Prince Zeid al Hussein as the next U.N. human rights chief. He will be the first Muslim and Arab to hold the post.
The 193-member world body burst into applause when assembly President John Ashe banged his gavel Monday signifying approval by consensus of the prince’s nomination to the U.N.’s top human rights job by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Mr. Zeid, a longtime diplomat and former U.N. peacekeeper, will take over from Navi Pillay as U.N. high commissioner for human rights on Sept. 1.
Mr. Zeid was a candidate for secretary-general when Mr. Ban was chosen for the job. He has built a reputation as being strong on issues such as international justice and sexual violence in his career.
