UN Special Coordinator

On 15 July 2022, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Christian Saunders as Special Coordinator on improving the United Nations response to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Mr. Saunders brings to the position over thirty years of experience in international affairs, much of it focusing on delivering results and overseeing major reforms leading to improved organizational effectiveness and efficiency. He served as a member of the high-level task force established by the Secretary-General to develop a strategy to improve the organization’s approach to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse.

He previously served as Acting Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and as Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Operational Support (2019-2022) and the Department of Management (2018-2019).

Mr. Saunders has broad experience from across the United Nations and significant humanitarian and field experience, having begun his career with the Save The Children Fund (UK) in the Sudan and then in Mozambique and his United Nations career with UNRWA in Gaza. He also served in various other postings with UNRWA, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Peacekeeping and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

He is a graduate of Royal Holloway College, University of London and the University of Wales in the United Kingdom. Mr. Saunders is married with three children.