Jean-Pierre Hocké
Jean-Pierre Hocké | |
|---|---|
 Hocké in 1996 | |
| 6th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees | |
| In office 1 January 1986 – 25 October 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Poul Hartling |
| Succeeded by | Thorvald Stoltenberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 March 1938 Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Died | 26 July 2021 (aged 83) Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Education | University of Lausanne |
Jean-Pierre Hocké (31 March 1938 – 26 July 2021) was a Swiss politician and United Nations official. He served as High Commissioner of the UNHCR in 1986–1989,[1] and before that as Director of Operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).[2]
Personal life and career
Hocké was born in Lausanne, and graduated from the University of Lausanne with a degree in economics and commerce in 1961.[3] He joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1968, and served as Director of the Operations Department there from 1973 to 1985, and as a member of the ICRC Directorate from 1981 to 1985.[4]
He was elected High Commissioner of the UNHCR in December 1985, and took office in 1986.[4][5] Under his leadership, the UNHCR launched the International Conference on Central American Refugees (CIREFCA), with the aim of helping people displaced and affected by conflicts in Central America. It also worked to organize the voluntary return of Vietnamese refugees, and began setting up camps for Ethiopian refugees in Sudan and Somali refugees in Ethiopia.[6] Hocké resigned as High Commissioner in October 1989, amid controversies regarding his alleged misuse of UN funding for first-class air travel.[7][8] He denied any wrongdoing, and was subsequently cleared by an investigation into the matter.[6][3]
References
- ↑ "United Nations". Rulers.org.
- ↑ "Jean-Pierre Hocké (Switzerland): 1986–1989". UNHCR. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- 1 2 "Décès du Vaudois Jean-Pierre Hocké, ancien haut commissaire aux réfugiés". Radio Télévision Suisse (in French). 28 July 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Jean-Pierre Hocké". International Review of the Red Cross. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ Hay, Alexandre (April 1986). "The Director of Operational Activities at the ICRC elected United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees". International Review of the Red Cross. 26 (251): 109–110. doi:10.1017/S0020860400022683. ISSN 0020-8604.
- 1 2 "Jean-Pierre Hocke, ex-head of UN refugee agency, dies at 83". Associated Press. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ↑ Lewis, Paul (1989-10-27). "U.N. Refugee Chief Quits Over His Use of Funds". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ↑ Schwartz, Ethan (1989-10-27). "U.N. REFUGEE CHIEF QUITS IN SCANDAL". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ↑ "Former UN Refugee Agency head dies at the age of 83". World Radio Switzerland. Retrieved 2022-12-13.
- ↑ "News comment: Death of former High Commissioner Jean-Pierre Hocké". UNHCR. Retrieved 2022-12-13.