Ban appoints Malaysian as Asst Sec-Gen for Peacebuilding

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Judy Cheng-Hopkins of Malaysia as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support. Cheng-Hopkins will replace Jane Holl Lute of the United States, UN Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe said on Tuesday.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Judy Cheng-Hopkins of Malaysia as Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.

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Cheng-Hopkins will replace Jane Holl Lute of the United States, UN Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe said on Tuesday.

"With over 30 years experience in key UN organisations, working on humanitarian, post-conflict, peacebuilding and development issues, Cheng-Hopkins is particularly well positioned to move the Secretary-General’s peacebuilding agenda forward," Okabe said.

Cheng-Hopkins most recently served as the Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, in charge of operations in over 118 countries around the world.

In her new position, Cheng-Hopkins will head the Peacebuilding Support Office, which was set up in 2006 to support the newly-established Peacebuilding Commission.

Established in 2005, the Commission helps post-conflict countries determine the priority areas for rebuilding out of the vast array of challenges they face.

Countries can also avail themselves of financial assistance from the Peacebuilding Fund to jump-start projects.