New UN human rights chief Navanethem Pillay said on Monday she would be impartial in her role but not shy away from confronting rights abusers.

The UN General Assembly has approved by consensus the appointment of SA Judge Navanethem Pillay as the UN’s new high commissioner for human rights.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday formally appointed South African Judge Navanethem Pillay as his high commissioner for human rights.

South African Judge Navanethem Pillay is to be named as the new United Nations high commissioner for human rights, diplomats and UN officials say.