Draft:Marc Bichler

Marc Bichler

Marc Bichler is a distinguished Luxembourgish diplomat and lawyer, currently serving as the Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva since June 1, 2021^[1]. His career has been marked by a strong commitment to sustainable development, human rights, and climate change.

Early Life and Education

Born on July 30, 1963, in Luxembourg, Marc Bichler pursued his education in law at the Université de Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne, where he obtained a Master in business law. After completing his studies, he was admitted to the Luxembourg Bar and began his professional career in law before transitioning into diplomacy.

Diplomatic Career

Bichler's diplomatic journey began in 1990 when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg. Over the years, he has held several significant positions.^[2]:

Ambassador-at-Large for Climate Change (2014 - Present): In this role, he has focused on international climate policies and financing for sustainable development.
Ambassador-at-Large for Human Rights (2016 - Present): He has chaired the Interministerial Committee for Human Rights and was instrumental in Luxembourg's candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for 2022-2024.
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (2012 - 2014): Bichler led initiatives aimed at enhancing development assistance.
Director General for Development Cooperation (2005 - 2012): He oversaw Luxembourg's development aid programs.

Before his current role in Geneva, Bichler served as the Deputy Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations in New York from 2000 to 2005 and held ambassadorial positions in several African nations, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal^[3].

Advocacy and Focus Areas

Throughout his career, Bichler has been a strong advocate for sustainable financing as essential for achieving development goals. He emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing global challenges^[4] In 2022, he criticized the UK's handling of migration and questioned the fairness of Britain's "hostile environment policy" during a UN human rights review, where he specifically expressed concerns about detention conditions and the treatment of migrants in UK detention centershttps://www.ibtimes.co.uk/british-policies-migration-rights-issues-under-fire-un-rights-forum-1708643.

^ "1st Meeting, Sixth Intersessional Meeting of the Human Rights Council on Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda". 01/18/2024. Retrieved 01/18/2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)
^ "Profile Linkedin". LinkedIn.
^ "Le nouveau Représentant permanent du Luxembourg présente ses lettres de créance | ONU GENEVE". www.ungeneva.org (in French). 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
^ "Marc Bichler | International Gender Champions". www.genderchampions.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.

[1] "1st Meeting, Sixth Intersessional Meeting of the Human Rights Council on Human Rights and the 2030 Agenda". 01/18/2024. Retrieved 01/18/2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help)

[2] "Profile Linkedin". LinkedIn.

[3] "Le nouveau Représentant permanent du Luxembourg présente ses lettres de créance | ONU GENEVE". www.ungeneva.org (in French). 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2024-11-05.

[4] "Marc Bichler | International Gender Champions". www.genderchampions.com. Retrieved 2024-11-05.

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