António Guterres: Accomplishments & Contributions
The ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, took office on January 1, 2017. His accomplishments and contributions are summarized as follows:
Commitment to human dignity:
Having witnessed the suffering of disadvantaged groups, Guterres has prioritized human dignity. His activities address a wide range of global issues, focusing on the values contained in the UN Charter.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response:
During the exceptional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Guterres rallied people and launched initiatives to solve the global health disaster, demonstrating leadership in the face of a challenging circumstance.
Climate Emergency:
Guterres has actively participated in tackling the climate emergency, emphasizing the importance of global climate action. His measures are consistent with the larger international efforts to tackle climate change.
Gender Equality:
Guterres, an advocate for gender equality, has worked to promote inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all genders within the United Nations framework.
Reforms for the 21st Century:
Guterres has led ambitious reforms within the United Nations that aim to improve the organization’s efficacy in peacekeeping, sustainable development, human rights, and humanitarian relief, demonstrating a commitment to modernizing the UN’s functions.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Before becoming Secretary-General, Guterres served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 until December 2015. He commanded UNHCR during major displacement crises, including operations in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Yemen.
Political and Governmental Service:
Guterres has almost 20 years of political and public service experience, including serving as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. He has been actively involved in international efforts, such as resolving the East Timor problem.
European Council Leadership:
Guterres, as President of the European Council in 2000, was instrumental in implementing the Lisbon Agenda for Growth and Jobs, as well as co-chairing the inaugural European Union-Africa Summit.
Social Democratic and Humanitarian Engagement
Guterres has a lengthy history of working with social democratic political parties, including as President of the Socialist International. He has also been interested in humanitarian work, having founded groups like the Portuguese Refugee Council and the Portuguese Consumers Association (DECO).
Club of Madrid Membership:
Guterres is a member of the Club of Madrid, an organization of democratic former presidents and prime ministers worldwide, demonstrating his ongoing participation in global leadership projects.
António Guterres, born in 1949 in Lisbon, is fluent in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish. He has an engineering degree from the Instituto Superior Técnico and is married with two children, a stepson, and three grandchildren.
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