Antonia De Meo

Antonia De Meo JD ’94 is director of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. In April 2023, she spoke about her work at the United Nations University’s “Lessons from Conflict Zones,” which is part of their BIG IDEAS Dialogue series.

Antonia Marie De Meo JD ’94 is director of the U.N. Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). UNICRI is an autonomous U.N. research and training institute that works globally to implement research and capacity building programs in both traditional and emerging areas of crime prevention, criminal justice, security, and the rule of law. A trial lawyer by training and former prosecutor, De Meo has more than than 20 years of experience in rule of law and human rights, including criminal justice and crime prevention, gender equity, child rights, and migrant rights. Prior to joining UNICRI in 2020, she served as chief of the Human Rights, Transitional Justice, and Rule of Law Service at the U.N. Support Mission in Libya and as representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Libya. De Meo previously worked with the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees; the U.N. Children’s Fund in Sri Lanka and Sudan; the U.N. Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sudan; the U.N. Office for Project Services in Palestine, Iraq, and Jordan; the Mission to Moldova of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; and the Human Rights Chamber for Bosnia and Herzegovina. De Meo holds a master’s degree from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. 

Antonia Marie De Meo JD ’94 has been appointed director of the U.N. Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute. De Meo served as chief of staff of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East from 2014 to 2017. She has held senior management positions with the U.N. Children’s Fund in Sri Lanka and Sudan (2011–2014), the U.N. Resident Coordinator’s Office in Sudan (2011–2012), and the U.N. Office for Project Services in Palestine, Iraq, and Jordan (2009–2011).