EU Council appoints Ilze Brands Kehris as Special Representative for Human Rights
The EU Council has appointed Ilze Brands Kehris as the new EU Special Representative for Human Rights. She will serve until February 2028, focusing on implementing EU human rights policies and strengthening international cooperation.
Why it matters
This appointment signals the EU's continued commitment to integrating human rights advocacy into its foreign policy and diplomatic engagements.
On Monday, the EU Council appointed Ilze Brands Kehris as EU Special Representative (EUSR) for human rights. Ms Brands Kehris is a Latvian national. Most recently, she served as Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights and Director of the New York Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights from January 2020 until May 2026.
A human rights specialist, she has extensive experience across a wide range of leadership positions in the Unted Nations and in national and regional human rights organisations, including as member and Chairperson of the Management Board of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency.
She will immediately take up her duties for a period lasting until 29 February 2028.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in