12 July 2010

UNMIT: SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS SHIGERU MOCHIDA OF JAPAN AS DEPUTY SPECIAL

9 July 2010 SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS SHIGERU MOCHIDA OF JAPAN AS DEPUTY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SECURITY SECTOR SUPPORT AND RULE OF LAW IN TIMOR-LESTE

The Secretary-General has appointed Shigeru Mochida of Japan as his Deputy Special Representative for Security Sector Support and Rule of Law of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).  Mr. Mochida succeeds the late Takahisa Kawakami of Japan, who passed away on 15 March 2010.  The Secretary-General is grateful for the dedicated and excellent leadership of the late Mr. Kawakami during his service with UNMIT as well as prior United Nations assignments at Headquarters and in the field.

Mr. Mochida has served the United Nations with commitment over the past 30 years in various capacities, and brings to UNMIT extensive management and operational experience, including in the political, security and conflict-resolution areas.  He most recently served, since 2005, as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, and, before that, as the Deputy Director of the Africa I Division of the Department of Political Affairs (DPA) at United Nations Headquarters in New York (2000-2005).

Mr. Mochida formerly worked with DPA as the Team Leader of the Horn of Africa Team in the Africa I Division (1994-2000) and as Officer-in-Charge of the Branch for Peaceful Settlement Procedures in Africa (1992-1994).  He was also Desk Officer for Asia and the Middle East in the Office for Research and the Collection of Information in the Office of the Secretary-General from 1988 to 1992.  He began his career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, where he initially served as Attaché with the Political Affairs Division of the United Nations Bureau (1975-1976) and then as Liaison Officer in the Security Affairs Division of the American Affairs Bureau (1978-1980).

Mr. Mochida received a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs of Princeton University.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

Born in Japan in 1952, he is married and has no children.

The message as issued by UN HQ.

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