About us
The United Nations ombudsman & mediation services are provided by a versatile team of professional staff with unique educational and professional backgrounds as well as language skills. The Office is located at the UN Headquarters in New York and has branches in Bangkok, Geneva, Khartoum, Kinshasa, Nairobi, New York, Santiago, and Vienna. When in-person consultations are not possible the ombudsman and mediators are available by phone and other means of communication.
All ombudsmen and mediators are trained in their profession and also receive ongoing training in alternative conflict resolution (ADR) including ombudsman practices, ethics, conflict coaching, mediation, and multi-party conflict resolution. In addition, the team networks with fellow-Ombudsman and Mediators of United Nations and Related International Organizations (UNARIO) and the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) to exchange best practices and to maintain the highest professional standards.
The Office is headed by Mr. Johnston Barkat who was appointed by the Secretary-General on 21 April 2008 at the level of Assistant Secretary-General.