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| Christine Schraner Burgener | |
|---|---|
| Name | Christine Schraner Burgener |
| Birth date | 1958 |
| Birth place | Bern, Switzerland |
| Occupation | Diplomat, Politician |
| Nationality | Swiss |
Christine Schraner Burgener is a Swiss diplomat and politician who served in senior roles in Swiss foreign service and as United Nations Special Envoy. She held ambassadorships to multiple countries and later entered Swiss parliamentary politics, becoming noted for advocacy on human rights, international law, and crisis diplomacy. Her career spans interactions with institutions such as the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union, and with states including Thailand, Germany, and Myanmar.
Born in Bern, she studied law and international relations at institutions including the University of Bern and obtained training relevant to careers at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (Switzerland), the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, and professional programs connected to the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. During her formative years she engaged with student networks tied to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and Swiss cantonal administrations including the Canton of Bern.
She joined the Swiss diplomatic service and served in posts involving multilateral and bilateral diplomacy, working with missions connected to the United Nations, the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Council of Europe. Her embassy assignments included representation in capitals such as New Delhi, Bangkok, Berlin, and postings in Jakarta and at Swiss missions to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She was Switzerland's Ambassador to Thailand, accredited also to Cambodia and Laos, later appointed Ambassador to Germany and Permanent Representative to several Berlin-based institutions. Her portfolio involved interaction with foreign ministers from countries including China, India, United States, Russia, and regional actors like ASEAN leaders and envoys from the European Commission.
In her role as United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar she reported to the UN Secretary-General and engaged with stakeholders including the State Counsellor's Office (Myanmar), representatives of the Tatmadaw, and leaders from ethnic organizations such as the Kachin Independence Organisation and the Karen National Union. She undertook diplomatic missions to capitals including Yangon, Bangkok, Geneva, and Washington, D.C. to brief officials from the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council, and delegations from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Parliament. Her mandate involved coordination with international mechanisms such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and engagement with humanitarian actors including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
After her diplomatic service she joined parliamentary politics in Switzerland, becoming a member of the Swiss National Council representing the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland and engaging with committees that liaised with the Federal Council and the Parliament of Switzerland. In her legislative role she worked on foreign policy matters with counterparts in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Swiss National Council), participated in bilateral delegation visits to the Bundestag and the European Parliament, and coordinated with international networks such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
She has been publicly vocal on human rights issues, rule-of-law concerns, and accountability mechanisms related to crises in regions such as Myanmar, Syria, and the Sahel. Her statements referenced instruments and institutions including the International Criminal Court, the Geneva Conventions, and procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, and she engaged with civil society organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and regional NGOs operating in Southeast Asia. She advocated for diplomatic pressure through sanctions coordinated with the European Union and targeted measures considered by the United States Department of State and multilateral forums like the G7.
Her service has been recognized by decorations and honours from foreign states and international organizations, including orders of merit and distinctions bestowed by governments such as Thailand and Germany, and acknowledgements from institutions like the United Nations and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces. She has received awards associated with diplomatic achievement presented by associations linked to the International Crisis Group and academic institutions including the University of Bern.
Category:1958 births Category:Swiss diplomats Category:Members of the National Council (Switzerland)