UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday appointed Awa Dabo of Gambia as deputy high commissioner for human rights.

Dabo succeeds Nada Al-Nashif of Jordan, to whom the UN chief and the high commissioner for human rights "are deeply grateful for her contribution to the Organization, and particularly her dedicated stewardship during a period of exceptional challenges," said a statement issued by the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General.

According to the statement, Dabo has extensive experience in human rights, crisis recovery, peacebuilding and prevention, humanitarian affairs and development, having held several senior-level positions within the United Nations, at country and headquarters levels.

In addition to her native English, Krio and Mandinka, she is fluent in Pidgin and Wolof, the statement said. ■