Vidar Helgesen

Job Title: Secretary-General

Joined International IDEA in January 2006.

Nationality: Norway

Programme: Secretary-General's Office

Office: Stockholm (HQ)

Phone: +46 8 698 37 00 (switchboard)

Email: v.helgesen@idea.int

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Experience:

From 2001 to 2005, Mr Helgesen was Norway’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. His portfolio included human rights and democracy, refugee issues, peace and reconciliation processes, and UN policy. Before that, he practiced as an Attorney-at-Law. He also served as Special Adviser to the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Mr Helgesen was appointed to the Central executive Committee of the Young Conservatives in Norway and ran the Conservative Party’s national campaign for the EU referendum in 1994.

His publications include Kosovo og folkeretten (“Kosovo and International Law”), Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies and Til krig for menneskerettighetene (“Waging War for Human Rights”), Institute of Public and International Law, University of Oslo.

Education:
Mr Helgesen holds a law degree from the University of Oslo.

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