Christian Strohal

Ambassador Christian Strohal was ODIHR Director from 2003 to 2008.

In his previous career, the Austrian diplomat worked as representative to the UN Commission on Human Rights, as a delegate to the UN General Assembly, and as a representative to the EU Working Group on Human Rights. From 1994 to 2000, he was Director for Human Rights, International Humanitarian Law, and Minority and Gender Issues at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Immediately before joining the ODIHR, he headed the Austrian Embassy in Luxembourg.

Under Strohal's direction, the ODIHR has moved towards longer-term and more-inclusive planning, responding to several new challenges and demands on the office's capacity. This period has also seen the creation of a fully fledged Human Rights Department, as well as the Tolerance and Non-discrimination Department.