United Nations, July 28 (PTI) Indian-origin ICC judge
Navanethem Pillay was today unanimously appointed as the new United
Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights. Pillay, 67, who is from
South Africa, will succeed Louise Arbour of Canada who completed her
term on June 30.

A Harvard alumna, Pillay is serving as a judge
on the International Criminal Court in the Hague since 2003. She had
earlier served both as judge and president on the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda which she had joined in 1995.

Pillay, who was formally nominated to the post by UN chief Ban Ki-moon
last week, will assume her new post on September one for a four-year
term. The job of human rights commissioner is both high profile and
controversial as member States are very sensitive to their respective
records.

Arbour too had annoyed Islamic countries as also some
western nations by her outspoken statements. The 192-member General
Assembly confirmed Pillay's appointment for a four-year term here today.

The search for new human rights commissioner started when Arbour said she does not intend to seek a second term. PTI.

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