Vidar Helgesen

Photo by DIPD/Thorkild Jensen

Vidar Helgesen has been the Secretary-General of International IDEA since January 2006. From 2001 to 2005, he was Norway’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. His portfolio included human rights and democracy, refugee issues, peace and reconciliation processes, and UN policy. Before that, he practiced as an Attorney-at-Law. He also served as Special Adviser to the President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

He was active for several years in a range of roles within the Conservative Party of Norway.

Vidar holds a law degree from the University of Oslo. His publications include Kosovo og folkeretten (“Kosovo and International Law”), Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies and Til krig for menneskerettighetene (“Waging War for Human Rights”), Institute of Public and International Law, University of Oslo.

Vidar Helgesen was appointed as a member of the Board by the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation.