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

Biography

Vidar Helgesen has served as Secretary-General of International IDEA since 2005 and commenced his second term as Secretary-General in January 2011.

Prior to joining International IDEA, Mr. Helgesen was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway from 2001 to 2005, with a portfolio which included human rights and democracy, refugee issues, peace and reconciliation processes and UN policy.  From 1998 to 2001, he served as Special Advisor to the President of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva.

In his capacity as Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Helgesen was an active mediator in conflict situations on behalf of the Norwegian Government, notably in Sri Lanka.  He is an active Board member of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, an independent mediation organization based in Geneva. Mr. Helgesen is also a member of the Board of the Danish Institute for Parties and Democracy. From 2007-2009, he was a member of the UN Peacebuilding Fund Advisory Board.

Mr. Helgesen became active in Norwegian politics in the 1980s and has held various positions within the Conservative Party of Norway, including as manager for the Conservative Party’s national campaign for Norwegian EU membership in 1994.

Mr. Helgesen holds a law degree from the University of Oslo and has practised as an Attorney-at-Law. He has published articles and book chapters on international law and on conflict mediation. He is married with one daughter.

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