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Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights’ first visit to Brussels

On 15-16 October 2026, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Awa Dabo visited Brussels for the first time since her appointment by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in February 2026.

On 16 Oct 2026

On this occasion, she participated in the International Conference on the Protection of Aid Workers in a panel on accountability. There, she presented how OHCHR and the UN human rights architecture can provide avenues and tools that directly contribute to a protection continuum, from early warning and prevention, through protection, to accountability and remedy. In particular, she emphasized how international human rights law complements international humanitarian law as another layer of protection, and how collecting evidence is the key bridge between violations occurring and facilitating any form of justice and thereby preventing recurrence.

Her visit also provided an opportunity to meet the PSC Ambassador of Lithuania, the upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as with several EU representatives and UN agencies.