Dr. Vahard Patrice (Côte d’Ivoire) is the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Director of the Joint United Nations Human Rights Office and member of the senior leadership team of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). He holds two doctoral degrees in human rights law (right to development) and in sociology of governance. He is fluent in English and French and lectures around the world on a variety of subjects including the African renaissance, conflict transformation, women’s rights, the right to development and human rights economy. Dr Patrice is a world acclaimed authority and speaker in the field of human rights with an emphasis on the right to development, human rights economy, and inequalities. While serving in Guinea, Dr Patrice forged the first ever partnership between UN Human Rights and the Chamber of Mining and High Institute of Mining and Geology in an effort to promote human rights in the extractive industry. Some of his most recent public speaking include a colloquium on the right to development in Guinea (June 2022), in Portugal (November 2024), at the DRC Africa Metal Battery Forum in Kolwezi (September 2025, DRC).