Hernan Vales

Hernan Vales

Chief of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section

Hernan Vales is Chief of the Indigenous Peoples and Minorities Section at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. His team works on the implementation of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and minorities, supporting expert bodies including the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, providing technical assistance to UN field presences, conducting research, and building capacity of civil society groups. Prior to joining the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva in 2007, Vales worked in the UN Office of Legal Affairs and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations where he gained crucial insights into conflict prevention and post-conflict justice mechanisms. Before joining the UN, Vales was a university professor and practiced law in Argentina, his country of origin. He holds a Law degree from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master of Laws from the University of London.