New Permanent Observer of Council of Europe Presents Letter of Appointment

The new Permanent Observer of the Council of Europe to the United Nations, Kelly Sipp, presented her letter of appointment to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

Ms. Sipp serves as the Permanent Observer of the Council of Europe to the United Nations in New York, since August 2026. Prior to this appointment, she acted as an Adviser (2022-2026) for the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) and a Project Manager for the Council of Europe in the fields of police and prisons (2021-2022).

She previously worked at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in various positions, namely as Deputy to the Head of the Private Office of the President (2020), Co-Secretary to the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights (2018-2020), and to the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons and the Sub-committee on Detention (2013-2014), Project Manager for cooperation activities with parliaments (2017-2018), and Communications Officer (2016). She initially joined the Council of Europe at the European Commission for the efficiency of justice and Consultative Councils of European Judges and Prosecutors (2010-2011).

Ms. Sipp's professional experience also includes serving as Associate Reporting Officer (Legal Protection) and UN Volunteer at the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offices in Mali (2014-2015). She also undertook internships with the UNHCR Representation to the European Institutions in Strasbourg, France (2012-2013), and earlier, with the French Embassy in New Delhi, India (2009-2010).

Ms Sipp holds a master's degree (LLM, with honours) in International and European Law (with a focus on Humanitarian Action and Law) from the University of Aix-Marseille and the Institute for International Humanitarian Studies, France (2011-2012). She completed a dual undergraduate degree in French and English Law (LLB/Maîtrise, with honours) at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom, and the University of Strasbourg, France (2005-2009).

Born on 9 April 1987 in Colmar, France, she is a native speaker of French and English.