Natalia Gherman (née Snegur; born 20 March 1969) is a Moldovan politician who has been serving as executive director of the United Nations' Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate since 2023.[1]
She began working in the Moldovan diplomatic service in 1991, as the second and then first secretary at the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1994 to 1997, she served as counsellor and deputy permanent representative to the UN Agencies in Vienna and the OSCE. From 1997 to 2001, she was deputy head of the Department of European Security and Political-Military Affairs at the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2001 to 2002, she was a minister-counsellor at the Moldovan Embassy in Brussels, as well as deputy head of the Mission of Moldova to NATO.[3]
In 2002, she became the Moldovan ambassador to Austria and permanent representative to the OSCE and the UN Agencies in Vienna. In this role, she was a "prominent contributor to the efforts of the [OSCE] in identifying solutions to the unresolved conflicts in the OSCE area" and also mobilized "the potential of the OSCE community towards the settlement of the Transnistria conflict in the Republic of Moldova." In 2006, she left Brussels for Stockholm, becoming the Moldovan Ambassador to Sweden, Norway and Finland. For her "merits in promoting relations between Sweden and Moldova", Gherman was awarded the Order of the Polar Star at the rank of Commander 1st Class. She left this role in 2009, upon her appointment as a deputy minister.[3]
In September 2017, she was appointed special representative and head of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia with headquarters in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.[4][5]
On 30 May 2013, she was appointed as the full minister of foreign affairs and European integration, whilst concurrently being appointed to the role of Deputy Prime Minister of Moldova. She was also responsible for chairing the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. In this role, she participated in the Global Forum on Migration and Development and contributed to the 'High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development'.[3] In 2014, The Guardian chose her as one of "Seven women to watch in global politics who are leading change all over the world." They claimed that "she could well be a future prime minister or president."[6][7] Also in 2014, she was awarded Moldova's highest national honour, the Order of the Republic.[3]
Gherman escorting John Kerry upon his arrival in Moldova in 2013.
In the November 2014 election, Gherman was elected as a member of parliament (MP), and became a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy and European Integration. Following Chiril Gaburici's resignation as Prime Minister of Moldova on 22 June 2015, Gherman took over in an interim capacity. She served until 30 July 2015, when Valeriu Streleț became prime minister, and she resumed her previous roles in the Streleț Cabinet. On 20 January 2016, she was succeeded in the roles of minister of foreign affairs and European integration and deputy prime minister by Andrei Galbur.[3]
On the topic of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers, Gherman was asked multiple times about this problem during the United Nations informal dialogues. She stated that the report given by the panel that oversees peacekeeping should be closely reviewed and analyzed.[17] She also stated that member states need to ensure the immediate persecution of peacekeepers who commit such crimes, as their actions tarnish the UN's image.[17] As for the victims of peacekeepers' abuse, Gherman believes we should work together to ensure that victims overcome this horrible experience and begin living a normal live.[17] She was also questioned about peacekeeper SEA at an International Peace Institute dialogue. Gherman said that their actions were "deplorable and unacceptable" for it "undermines the trust of the people being helped in the organization and the trust of member states."[18] She also said that member states needed to ensure that troops are well trained and held responsible in the case of abuse.[18]
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