Chapter I: UN Charter, structure and system
25
Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) Under-Secretary-General: Patricia O’Brien (Ireland) The Office of Legal Affairs (http://legal.un.org/ola) is the central legal service of the Organization. It also contributes to the progressive development and codification of international public and trade law. Among its chief responsbilities, OLA •• provides legal advice to the Secretary-General, Secretariat departments and offices and principal and subsidiary organs of the United Nations in the field of public and private international law; •• performs substantive and secretariat functions for legal organs involved in public international law, the law of the sea and international trade law; and •• carries out the functions conferred on the Secretary-General as depositary of multilateral treaties. OLA also •• deals with legal questions relating to international peace and security; the status, privileges and immunities of the United Nations; and the credentials and representations of member states; •• prepares drafts of international conventions, agreements, rules of procedure of United Nations organs and conferences, and other legal instruments; and • • provides legal services and advice on issues of international private and administrative law, and on UN resolutions and regulations. Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser: Maged Abdelfatah Abdelaziz (Egypt) The Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (www.un.org/africa/osaa) was established in 2003. OSAA enhances international support for Africa’s development and security through its advocacy and analytical work; assists the Secretary-General in improving coherence and coordination of UN system support to Africa; and facilitates intergovernmental deliberations on Africa at the global level, in particular relating to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). OSAA takes the lead in the preparation of Africa-related reports and inputs on NEPAD. The Office also convenes an interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs to improve coherence in UN support to Africa. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG/CAAC) Special Representative: Leila Zerrougui (Algeria) The Office of the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (www. un.org/children/conflict) promotes and protects the rights of all children affected by armed conflict. The Special Representative serves as a moral voice and independent advocate for the protection and well-being of boys and girls affected by armed conflict; works with partners to propose ideas and approaches that enhance protection; advocates, raises awareness and gives prominence to issues of rights and protection; and undertakes humanitarian and diplomatic initiatives to facilitate the work of those acting on the ground for the sake of children in armed conflict.