Arminka Helic

Arminka Helić, Baroness Helić (born 20 April 1968)[1] is a British Conservative politician from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who served as Special Adviser to the former Foreign Secretary William Hague.[2][3]

The Right Honourable
The Baroness Helić
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
24 November 2014
Life Peerage
Personal details
Born (1968-04-20) 20 April 1968
Gračanica, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyConservative

In 2014, Arminka Helić was nominated to the House of Lords by David Cameron. She was created a Life Peer on 18 September 2014 taking the title Baroness Helić, of Millbank in the City of Westminster[4] and was introduced to the House of Lords on 24 November 2014.[5]

Early life

Born in Gračanica, SFR Yugoslavia,[6] Arminka Helić is a Bosnia and Herzegovina foreign policy expert who became a Conservative adviser after fleeing the Yugoslav conflict of the 1990s.[7]

Foreign policy adviser

Helić has advised numerous Conservatives in opposition and government from 1998 onwards, building up considerable expertise. She has been described by Matthew D'Ancona as "one of the most impressive foreign policy experts in the Government."[8] Known for her discretion,[9] there is little in the public domain on her personal views, although she is pro-American. According to a leaked dispatch from Richard LeBaron, Deputy Head of the US Mission in London, she shares William Hague's pronounced pro-U.S. views and described the United States as "the essential country."[10]

Global Sexual Violence Initiative

Helić is credited with persuading UK Foreign Secretary William Hague to launch the UK's Global Sexual Violence Initiative.[11] Hague worked with Angelina Jolie to draw attention to the issue at a four-day summit in 2014.[12] In October 2017, Helić was named as one of London's most influential figures for her refugee work.[13]

Trust Fund for Victims

In November 2015, Helić was elected to the Board of the Trust Fund for Victims as the representative of Western European Countries and Other States. The Trust, established under the auspices of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, encourages restorative justice through the provision of assistance to victims of crimes that fall within the Court's jurisdiction.

Parliamentary work

In May 2016, Baroness Helić was appointed to the House of Lords International Relations Committee.[14]

References
  1. "Biography for Baroness Helic". MyParliament. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  2. Department of Information Services, "Parliamentary Information List", accessed 07.09.10
  3. "Special Advisers in Posts 30 November 2014" (PDF). Government of United Kingdom. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  4. "No. 60997". The London Gazette. 24 September 2014. p. 18554.
  5. BBC Democracy Live "Introductions: Baroness Helic"
  6. "Biography for Baroness Helic". MyParliament. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  7. David Charter, "Ashdown backed for EU Balkans job", 02.06.10, accessed 08.09.10
  8. d'Ancona, Matthew (30 September 2013). In It Together: The Inside Story of the Coalition Government. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 9780670919949. Retrieved 29 September 2016 – via Google Books.
  9. "Arminka Helic, Profile". BBC Radio 4. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  10. David Leigh, "WikiLeaks cables: Conservatives promised to run 'pro-American regime'", 12.03.10, accessed 01.26.11
  11. "Sexual violence in conflict - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  12. Borger, Julian (31 March 2014). "Jolie to seek end to sexual violence as war weapon at London summit". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  13. "The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2017 - Social Pillars: Crusaders". 30 October 2017.
  14. "International Relations Committee - membership". parliament.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
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