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Abraham Mathai is a senior member of the United Nations International Civil Service . Prior to joining the United Nations, he was a member of the Indian Civil Service; IPS(1983) and IES (1982). He has been serving as the Chief Security Advisor of United Nations Human Rights, based in Geneva, Switzerland with world-wide responsibilty; a post he assumed on 1 September 2009. As the Chief of corporate security and the aviation focal point of the organisation, he is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the security of OHCHR staff, assets and operations world-wide (in coordination with the UN Department of Safety and Security and the Member States). Abraham Mathai also directs the Security Information and Operations Center (SIOC) of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights and its global security clearance and travel advisory service. He is also a member of the UN Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) consisting of all the 42 UN Organisations Funds and Programmes.

Prior to joining OHCHR, Abraham Mathai served as Chief of the Middle East & North Africa at the UN Department of Safety and Security in New York (2006-2009), Senior Advisor of UN International Investigation Commission in Lebanon (2005), Senior Security Coordinator at the UN headquarters in New York (2001-2005), Chief Security Advisor in Iraq (1998-2001) and Chief of Security of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in former Yugoslavia (1997-98).

After completing B.A (Economics, World History and Political Science) and M.A (Economics), Abraham Mathai started his career in 1980 as a university lecturer at St. Mary’s College, Sulthan Bathery, India. In 1982, he was selected to the Indian Economic Service and in 1983 to the Indian Civil Service. He started his government career as Assistant Director at the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, followed by, Assistant Commissioner of Police in Amritsar, Superintendent of Police in Ludhiana, Senior Superintendent of Police, State Security in Punjab State and thereafter as Assistant Inspector General of the Special Protection Group (SPG) in New Delhi from 1988-97, raising to the level of Inspector General/Director at Government of India. He is a recipient of Commendations from the Prime Minister of India for outstanding service and Special Duty Medal from Government of India for excellent work under conditions of terrorism. Abraham Mathai held the rank of Inspector General (IG) – army equivalent of Major General - at the time of his permanent absorption to the UN international civil service.

Abraham Mathai has participated in a large number of international events and sensitive special operations and has attended training programs with the US Diplomatic Security Services (protective security operations), the Tokyo Metropolitan Police (urban policing), the UK Scotland Yard Police (hostage incident management) and UNITAR (Multilateral Diplomacy). He is also trained at the UN in Collaborative Mediation & Negotiation.

The Paul Volker Committee investigating the multi billion curruption case related to the Oil for Food Programme in Iraq has appreciated Abraham Mathai's work as UN's Security Advisor in Iraq, quoting then Humanitarian Coordinator and Assistant Secretary General that, " He became too good at his job and therefore a threat to Iraqi authorities" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Volcker_Committee>

There are also positive references about Abraham Mathai in the book " A Different Kind of War" written by Mr. Hans von Sponeck 