The Annual George Okoth-Obbo Lecture.

Mr. George William Okoth-Obbo is one of the foremost leading experts on international refugee law whose contribution has greatly shaped the study of forced migration and the practice of international refugee law.

Mr. Okoth-Obbo holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University and a diploma in legal practice from the Law Development Centre in Uganda. Prior to joining UNHCR, he was a Lecturer in Law at the Law Development Centre and Faculty of Law at Makerere University respectively.Mr. George William Okoth-Obbo of Uganda was appointed in December 2021 by the UN Secretary-General as his Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect. He served his term untill August 2023.

He previously served as the Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary and Head of the Secretariat of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement, a position to which he was appointed by the Secretary-General in 2019, Mr. Okoth-Obbo has had a United Nations career spanning over 30 years, serving as Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (2015-2019); Director of the Organization’s Regional Bureau for Africa (2009-2015); Director of its Division of International Protection (2006–2009); and as UNHCR Representative in Kenya (2001-2006) and Zambia (2001).

He was also Deputy Director in the UNHCR Regional Directorate for Southern Africa (2000-2001); Senior Policy Officer in the same office (1998-2000); Assistant Representative for Protection in Ethiopia (1995-1998); Senior Legal Adviser in the Regional Bureau for Africa (1991-1995); Senior External Relations Officer, UNHCR Headquarters (1989-1991); Protection Officer in Lesotho (1987-1989) and in Swaziland (1987); and Associate Protection Officer in Botswana (1984-1987).