"10 Thoughts Inspired By The Fall Of The Berlin Wall"

The Hon. Ögmundur Jónasson (President, IPAHP Human Rights Program, Member of the Parliament of Iceland, Former Minister of Justice and Human Rights)

(Berlin; November 9th, 2014)

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The Hon. Ögmundur Jónasson

(President, IPAHP Human Rights Program, Member of the Parliament of Iceland, Former Minister of Justice & Human Rights)

Biography

The Hon. Ögmundur Jónasson is a renowned politician of Iceland, serving as the member of Althingi, the Icelandic Parliament since 1995.

Academic Career

Mr. Jónasson completed his studies in History and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Following graduation, he worked for a number of years as Lecturer at the University of Iceland, and then went on starting his career in Journalism & Broadcasting. From 1978 to 1988, he was a radio broadcaster and TV reporter at RÚV, the Icelandic Public Broadcasting Service.

Political Career

In 1988 Mr. Jónasson was nominated Chairman of BSRB, the Confederation of State and Municipal Employees of Iceland. He was Chairman of the Non-Aligned Parliamentary group from 1998 to 1999, and subsequently became the Chairman of the Left Green Movement's Parliamentary group from 1999 to 2009, when he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Security. In 2010, Mr. Jónasson was appointed Minister of Justice and Human Rights and Minister of Transport, Communications, and Local Government.

Ögmundur Jónasson returned to the Cabinet in 2011 to head the newly created Ministry of the Interior. He is currently the Chairman of the Parliament's Constitutional and Supervisory Committee and is a representative to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Mr. Jónasson has served on several international trade union boards, such as the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), Public Services International (PSI), the Council of Nordic Trade Unions (NFS) and the Council of Nordic Municipal Employees (NTR).

Throughout his MP career, Ögmundur Jónasson has occupied several roles:

Full Member: Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons

Full Member: Committee on Social Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development

Member: Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs

Member: Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee)

Ögmundur Jónasson is also a strong supporter of human rights and national minority rights.

Photo Gallery

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