In her previous functions, between 2008 and 2012, she served as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Deputy Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). In this capacity she led the efforts led by the Mission to promote the strengthening of the rule of law and the protection of civilians.
A lawyer and expert in human rights and the administration of justice, Ms. Zerrougui has worked throughout her career to strengthen the rule of law and defend strategies and actions for the protection of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.
Ms. Zerrougui has been a member of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at the United Nations Human Rights Council since 2001, and served as Chair and Rapporteur of the Working Group from 2003 to 2008. She had previously served as an expert member on working groups and committees of the Commission on Human Rights. the man.
Before taking on her international commitments, Ms. Zerrougui led a long career in Algerian justice and was appointed to the Supreme Court of Algeria in 2000. She was a juvenile judge and judge in a court of first instance from 1980 to 1986, as well as a court of appeal judge from 1986 to 1997. From 1998 to 2000, Ms. Zerrougui served as legal advisor to the office of the Minister of Justice, then from 2000 to 2008 as legal advisor to the office of the President of the Republic. She also held several high positions within the Algerian government and was a member of the National Commission for the Reform of the Judicial System.
Ms. Zerrougui is a graduate of the National School of Administration of Algiers, where she completed her studies in 1980. Since 1993, she has held various teaching positions in law faculties in Algeria and has been an associate professor At the Higher School of Magistracy (Algiers). She has published several articles on the administration of justice and human rights.
Mrs. Zerrougui was born in 1956 in Souk-Ahras, Algeria.
