Christophe Kamp

Christophe Kamp is a Dutch diplomat who has served as the seventh High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) since December 2024.

Early life and education

Christophe Kamp was born in Amsterdam. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Leiden University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Career

Prior to his appointment as High Commissioner, Kamp served as the Ambassador of the Netherlands to the OSCE. With nearly 25 years of experience in diplomacy, Kamp has held various roles within the Dutch Foreign Ministry, the European External Action Service, and the United Nations, focusing on international security and human rights. Before joining the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands in 2001, Kamp worked at the UN Department of Political Affairs in New York and with the UN Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities

The mandate of the High Commissioner was created during the Yugoslav Wars, and plays a key role in preventing ethnic tensions and conflicts in the OSCE region, which includes 57 participating states across Europe, Central Asia, and North America.

As High Commissioner, Kamp emphasizes the importance of balancing security with human rights to foster sustainable peace. He advocates for dialogue and cooperation between national minorities and states to enhance mutual trust and inclusion. His work involves country visits, engagement with authorities and minority communities, and, were relevant, neighbouring states. Main considerations are the need for a strong legal basis for minority rights protection, the need to find practical solutions for integrating diversity in a way that supports stability, and the need for assistance and advice to authorities and other groups in society to work toward these ends.^[1][2]