Ban Ki-moon: Secretary-General-- A Man of Action

by

Yumi Ochiai

Ban Ki-moon is the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. A Korean, he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of his country when he was elected as the Secretary-General. In his native country, he served in many ways. He has been Foreign Policy Advisor to the President, Chief National Security Advisor to the President, Deputy Minister for Policy Planning, and Director-General of American Affairs. Public service had been the focus of Ban Ki-moon’s life, a service that he used to bring peace and prosperity to his own region as well as to the wider world. For his service, he has received numerous of prizes and awards in the 70’s and 80’s. More recently, in 2007, he was awarded the Republic of Korea’s Highest Order of Service Merit for service to his country.

Among his most recent achievements, Mr. Ban is the author of a report on Iraq, which recommends that the role of the United Nations be expanded to help achieve advancement for the Iraqi people, while at the same time assist in promoting conditions which would accomplish the decline of violence in Iraq. He announced that he would send more staff to Iraq as soon as it is safe enough for UN people to be there. He has increased already the number of the staff in Baghdad and Erbil. Mr. Ban is considering a way to improve outreach to the provinces, including the re-establishment of a small UN office in Basra.

Other initiatives in his term of office will concentrate on getting rid of destitution, hunger, disease, and illiteracy by 2015. Recently, UN Headquarters heard testimonies from people who face extreme poverty. Five children who won the UN’s International Children’s Art Competition on ending poverty were honored as part of the UN’s program to eradicate poverty.

“Let us all stand up. Let us demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all,” said Mr. Ban.