DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 27 -- A Tanzanian lawyer and human rights advocate, Advocate Onesmo Olengurumwa, has emerged as one of the leading global contenders for the position of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

Adv Olengurumwa has been selected as the second candidate for the prestigious mandate following a recommendation by the UN Consultative Group to the President of the Human Rights Council during its 61st session (HRC61).

The selection followed a highly competitive, transparent and rigorous international process that assessed 65 eligible candidates from around the world.

The recognition places the Tanzanian advocate among a small group of globally respected experts deemed fit to oversee and ...