Ivan Šimonović

Ivan Šimonović (Croatian pronunciation: [ǐʋan ʃimǒːnoʋit͡ɕ]; born 2 May 1959) is a Croatian diplomat, politician and law scholar. In October 2008 he was appointed Justice Minister of Croatia.[1] On 3 May 2010, Šimonović was appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights.[2] As of 1 October 2016, Šimonović has been appointed as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect.[3]

Ivan Šimonović
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights
In office
17 July 2010 – 30 September 2016
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byAndrew Gilmour
Minister of Justice of Croatia
In office
10 October 2008 – 7 July 2010
Prime MinisterIvo Sanader (2008–09)
Jadranka Kosor (2009–10)
Preceded byAna Lovrin
Succeeded byDražen Bošnjaković
Permanent Representative
to the United Nations of Croatia
In office
7 February 1997 – 8 February 2003
Preceded byMario Nobilo
Succeeded byVladimir Drobnjak
Personal details
Born (1959-05-02) 2 May 1959
Zagreb, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyIndependent
Alma materUniversity of Zagreb

Education and career

Šimonović graduated from the University of Zagreb Law School in 1982. He obtained a doctoral degree in 1990, at the age of 31.[4] Šimonović joined the Croatian diplomatic corps after the break-up of Yugoslavia. He was an assistant and deputy to Foreign Minister Mate Granić during the 1990s, although he never joined the ruling party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ).

In 1997, Croatian President Franjo Tuđman named him ambassador to the United Nations.[4][5] Šimonović served there until 2002. While serving there, Šimonović presided over the United Nations Economic and Social Council.[6]

In 2002, Šimonovic was named Deputy Foreign Minister in Ivica Račan's government.[7] He remained independent and did not join the ruling SDP. When the HDZ swung back to power in 2003, Šimonović was not offered a job in the new government. In 2004, he became a professor at the University of Zagreb Law School, where he teaches general theory of law and state, human rights and atrocity crime prevention, and international relations.

Šimonović was appointed Minister of Justice-designate of Croatia by PM Ivo Sanader on 6 October 2008. His predecessor, Ana Lovrin, had resigned the same day following a series of unsolved assaults and murders linked to Croatian organized crime that culminated with the murder of Ivana Hodak, daughter of controversial Croatian lawyer Zvonimir Hodak.[1] However, it turned out that she was killed by a homeless man, in some apparent act of retaliation against her father.[8]

In May 2010 Šimonović was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights.[2] In October 2016, Šimonović has been appointed as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect.[3] In 2019 he was reappointed Croatian Ambassador to the UN.[9] In 2023 he serves as Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission.[10]

References
  1. "Croatia murder: Ministers fired". Sky News. 11 October 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  2. "Secretary-General Appoints Ivan Šimonovic of Croatia Assistant Secretary-General in New York Human Rights Office" (Press release). United Nations. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  3. "Ivan Šimonović". OHCHR. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. "AMBASSADOR IVAN SIMONOVIC" (PDF). United Nations. 2002.
  5. Agnihotri, Newal K (1 May 1999). "Current Issues: Electronic Interview (Croatian Ambassador Ivan Šimonovic, Dutch Information Officer Peter Mollema, US Senators Paul Wellstone and Charles Robb)". Presidents & Prime Ministers.
  6. "2002: H.E. Mr. Ivan Šimonović (Croatia) | Economic and Social Council". Un.org. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  7. "UN extends US immunity". BBC. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  8. "Police nab Ivana Hodak killer". B92. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  9. "Stalni predstavnik". template.gov.hr. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  10. "PBC CHAIR HISTORY | PEACEBUILDING". www.un.org. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
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