Gillian Triggs appointed Assistant High Commissioner for Protection

Former Human Rights chief appointed Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.

Gillian Triggs will move to Geneva for her new role. Picture: Gary Ramage.

The former head of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, has been appointed Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at the United Nations.

Ms Triggs told The Australian she was thrilled to have accepted the senior role, which will see her move to the Swiss city of Geneva, in late September.

“I am of course very honoured to be offered the position; it’s rather unexpected I must say,” Ms Triggs said. “It’s a very recent development but I’m in some ways excited, but it’s a huge job with massive implications.

“There are 71 million displaced people and refugees around the world and we have some very significant protection obligations in our region.”

While Ms Triggs said there were “enormous problems” in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, she is eager to ensure there is a better global understanding of the Asia Pacific region and people fleeing prosecution in “our part of the world.”

A press release from the UNHCR congratulated Ms Triggs and highlighted her “extensive history of dedicated service to human rights and the refugee cause in Australia, the Asia-Pacific Region and globally.”

“She has been closely associated with a number of not-for-profit organisations throughout her career, including through her current role as Chair of Justice Connect, an organisation that connects 10,000 lawyers to provide pro bono advice to asylum seekers and others in need of legal support,” the UNHCR statement said.

Ms Triggs said she anticipated her role would be largely diplomatic in function and would involve working with government officials to find ways that protections for displaced people could be enhanced, such as helping refugees find a safe passage home to their place of origin.

“Most refugees overwhelmingly want to go home, one task will be finding and helping their safe transit passage back to their homes and villages,” Ms Triggs said. “They want to return home, but safely, and that’s the key thing.”

By taking on the role, Ms Triggs said she would have to step down as chair of Justice Connect and any national positions that conflicted with her function as an international civil servant.

“I will step down as chair of Justice Connect,” she said. “But will probably stay on as patron.”

The appointment is the first time the role has been filled by someone from outside the UN, but Ms Triggs is not the first Australian woman to be given a senior role in the organisation.

“There are a number of Australian women who now hold senior positions within the UN,” Ms Triggs said. “It is a very gratifying recognition of Australian women.”

The UN High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, congratulated his new colleague on Twitter, saying: “Delighted that Gillian Triggs has been appointed High Commissioner for Refugees for protection. She will bring to UNHCR substantial legal expertise, knowledge and experience of refugee issues and a passion for human rights. We look forward to welcoming her soon!”

More to come.