Mr Alexandre Claude Schmidt

He took office as Regional representative for West and Central Africa in June 2009. He previously served as UNODC Representative in :

* In Russia covering Russian Federation and Belarus, as UNODC Regional Representative from September 2007 to June 2009,

* In Kabul, Afghanistan UNODC Deputy Country Representative for March 2004 to August 2007 and assumed the programme management, contribution to the promotion of better understanding of drug control and crime prevention policies and advocacy on their inclusion in government planning, and implementation of technical assistance activities in the field of drug control and criminal justice.

* In Beirut, Lebanon as UNODC Head of Office in Sub-Office from June 1998 to February 2004 and assumed the  Programme management and implementation of technical assistance activities in the field of juvenile justice, trafficking against human beings, prison reform, and anti-corruption.

Before joining UNODC, he hold various positions with UN as :

* Associate Expert (Vienna) from August 1996 to May 1998, assigned to the Division for Operations, Section for juvenile justice and penitentiary administration reforms.

* Jurist in United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland from December 1995 to June 1996.

Mr Schmidt, a French national started his career as Technical Assistant of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France posted in French Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso f rom October 1993 to October 1995. He assumed duties as mediator to prevent juvenile delinquency. He is graduated with Advanced University Degree in comparative french-German Criminal Law and also holds a Masters degree in International law. In professional society and activities in international affairs, Mr Schmidt is member of the International Association of Juvenile and Family Court Magistrates and has published Juvenile Justice Initiatives in the Middle-East, in Lebanon in April 2000 and Forum on Crime and Society, UNODC in July 2004. Mr Schmidt is fluent in French, English, German and Arabic.