Crisis Group Congratulates Louise Arbour on her UN Appointment

The International Crisis Group extends heartfelt congratulations to Louise Arbour, our former President & CEO, on her 9 March appointment as the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for International Migration.

In addition to her illustrious career promoting international justice, Crisis Group recognises Ms. Arbour’s extraordinary contributions to global peace and security. As former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, she brings wide-ranging skills and expertise to her new role.

“With unresolved conflicts at the root of the global migration crisis, the UN has made an excellent choice in appointing Louise Arbour to this important new post”, said Jean-Marie Guéhenno, President & CEO of Crisis Group. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with Louise, and stand ready to offer recommendations for a more holistic response to the migration crisis by UN member states.”

As Crisis Group’s president from 2009 to 2014, during an era of great international volatility, Ms. Arbour ensured the organisation remained strong and effective through its timely analysis of deadly conflicts and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve them. Crisis Group’s Louise Arbour Fund for Emerging Conflicts, established after Ms. Arbour’s departure in 2014, helps to ensure that the organisation is equipped to respond swiftly to early warnings signalling new or worsening conflict. 

Crisis Group welcomes the appointment of an expert on conflict prevention and resolution in this new role, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres acts on his important pledge that conflict “prevention is not merely a priority, but the priority”. We are certain that with Louise Arbour, the UN will strengthen its response to protect those fleeing conflict and to find new ways to address the root causes of involuntary mass displacement of people.