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- Africa in the 21st Century
Kofi Annan
- Aired: February 2008
- , Posted: 1st February, 2008
- Video: FLV /
- 70 MB
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Kofi Annan
Mr. Annan joined the UN system in 1962 as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva .
The Seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) 1997 to 2006 and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff.
In 2005, he urged the Member States to establish two new intergovernmental bodies: the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council.
Played a central role in the creation of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the adoption of the UN's first-ever counter-terrorism strategy, and the acceptance by Member States of the “responsibility to protect” people from genocide,war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
He has been a constant advocate for human rights, the rule of law, the Millennium Development Goals and Africa , and sought to bring the Organization closer to the global public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector and other partners.
In 1998, he helped to ease the transition to civilian rule in Nigeria .
In 2001 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace, jointly with the Organization.
back to top »Comments
- Nick said
- 08 October, 2008 at 4:32pm
I saw Mr Annan’s debate / discussion with Bob Geldof on the future of Africa at the RGS this year and totally agreed with his viewpoints on the necessity of African leaders to engage in regional conflicts and not fall back on a reluctance to interfere with a neighbouring nations’ sovereignty.