Søren Jessen-Petersen

Drawing from thirty years of experience on the humanitarian frontlines, Søren Jessen-Petersen's project considers ethnic conflict and humanitarian intervention from the Balkan conflicts to West Africa’s Great Lakes region, focusing on the human consequences of failed, delayed, and successful political initiatives as well as post-conflict reconstruction.

A prominent international civil servant, Jessen-Petersen has held numerous positions in the U.N. and European Union. Most recently, he was Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General and head of the UN Mission in Kosovo (2004–2006). Immediately prior, he was the EU Special Representative to Macedonia (2004). For many years Jessen-Petersen served with the UN High Commission for Refugees, in which his most recent position was as assistant high commissioner in Geneva (1998–2001).

He holds an M.A. from the University of Copenhagen.

Publications:

• “Multilateralism, Sovereignty, and the Political Consequences of Humanitarian Intervention,” USIP Senior Fellow Project Report (May 29, 2007).
• “Kosovo: What Next?,” Congressional Testimony, February 26, 2007.
• “Self-rule, Now,” International Herald Tribune, (February 1, 2007).

Available on usip.org:

• Kosovo: What Next?
  Congressional Testimony, February 26, 2007
• Multilateralism, Sovereignty, and the Political Consequences of Humanitarian Intervention
  Senior Fellow Project Report, May 29, 2007