Solveig Knudsen

Thematic expertise: Inclusive process design, gender, women, peace and security issues, security arrangements, including how to address protection of civilians, children in armed conflict and conflict-related sexual violence in mediation, ceasefires and peace agreements.

Geographic expertise: Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean region and Europe

Languages: Norwegian, English and French

Solveig Knudsen has worked for the past fifteen years with the United Nations and currently serves with the Office of the Special Adviser of the United Nations Secretary-General on Cyprus (OSASG-Cyprus), as a UN Facilitator in the Cyprus settlement negotiations.

Prior to joining the OSASG-Cyprus, Ms. Knudsen worked with the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) in New York. As part of its Mediation Support Unit, she provided mediation support and advice to ongoing dialogue, mediation, and conflict prevention processes, including on issues related to inclusive process design, gender, women, peace and security-related issues. Prior to joining DPPA, Solveig worked for with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right’s (OHCHR) Regional Office for the Middle East, covering ten countries throughout the region. With OHCHR in Geneva from 2006 onwards, Ms. Knudsen worked with the Human Rights Council and the establishment of the Universal Periodic Review. Ms. Knudsen has also served with the World Health Organization, and before joining the UN, in different functions with the NGO Franciscans International and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.