by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, June 5 – How corrupt and decrepit has the UN system become under Antonio Guterres, in this case due to Guterres? Today's example is again from the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, to which Guterres appointed his unqualified crony Volker Turk more than two years ago.
Potential Conflicts of Interest at OHCHR
1. Early Connections and Career Foundations - Maarit Kohonen Sherif (Finland) served as Chef de Cabinet under High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein. - Mohamed Alnsour was brought into Zeid’s front office and later became P5 Chief of the MENA Section. - Maarit’s husband, Mohammed Sherif began his career as GS staff in the MENA Section, where Alnsour was his superior. He was promoted to P2, then transferred to the OHCHR East Africa Office in Addis Ababa, where he was rapidly promoted from P3 to P4.
But wait there's more: Matthias Behnke served as Junior professional officer to Volker Turk when the latter was UNHCR representative in Sarajevo in the 1990s.
2. Matthias Behnke’s Career Path - Matthias Behnke (Denmark) served as P5 Head of the OPT Office. - He later transferred to Geneva, becoming P5 Chief of Section in the Africa Branch, where Maarit was also a P5 Chief of Section. - Maarit was promoted to D1 Africa Branch Director, and eventually to D2 Director of Global Operations. - Matthias was recently appointed as D1 Chief, Americas, Europe and Central Asia Branch, reporting to Maarit.
NOTE: UN Spokespeople and Officials have been asked in writing about all of this, with a request for confirmation of receipt and response. So far, nothing. Names to follow.
Yet more! Azra Behnke was Volker Turk’s assistant in UNHCR in Bosnia in the late ‘90s., where Matthias was a Danish sponsored UNV. Turk brought Azra to UNHCR in Geneva from where she moved to OHCHR
3. Personal Ties and Workplace Overlap - Maarit is married to Mohammed Sherif. - Matthias Behnke is married to Azra Behnke, who now serves as Maarit’s assistant, creating a triangle of influence between Maarit, Matthias, and Azra. - This close-knit group could be described as a clique, with Maarit as the informal leader.
4. Yasmine Abou Mansour’s Rapid Rise - Yasmine, who previously worked with Matthias in the OPT Office, was brought to Geneva by him. - She started as a temporary P3, was regularized, and then promoted to P4 by Alnsour—all within the MENA Section. - Later, Alnsour facilitated her promotion to P5 Special Assistant to the Deputy High Commissioner, who, like Alnsour, is Jordanian.
5. Alnsour’s Controversial Career - Alnsour has been the subject of several investigations. - Despite this, he was promoted to D1 in the OHCHR Iraq Office, but returned to his previous role as Chief of MENA Section after the Iraq office closed. Summary of Potential Conflicts of Interest - Interpersonal relationships (marriages, friendships, national ties) appear to have played a significant role in career advancements. - Maarit, Matthias, and Alnsour have all been in positions to influence each other’s careers or those of their close associates. - The promotion of spouses and former colleagues into key roles under direct or indirect supervision raises ethical concerns about nepotism and favoritism. - The investigations into Alnsour further complicate the integrity of these career progressions
This is the UN of Guterres.
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