Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moonis a South Korean statesman and politician who is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. Before becoming Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he graduated from university, accepting his first post in New Delhi, India...
NationalitySouth Korean
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth13 June 1944
environmental borders border-security
Since problems spill across borders, security anywhere depends on sustainable development everywhere.
nuclear-disarmament world path
Nuclear disarmament is the only sane path to a safer world.
web-of-life way vegan
We have all heard of the web of life. The way we live threatens to trap us in a web of death.
thinking hands leader
You have to work and think about how we can make this world a better place for all. This is what I'd really like to ask our young leaders. We will try as leaders of today to minimise the problems which we will hand over to you. But it is to you. You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen.
fighting people growth
Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth – these are one and the same fight.
deliver measure success true
The true measure of success for the U.N. is not how much we promise, but how much we deliver for those who need us most.
luxurious might work
The U.N. might not be the most luxurious place to work, but it certainly is one of the most important places in the world.
agencies armed charitable conflicts continue donations public rely response work
The U.N.'s humanitarian agencies rely on charitable donations from the public as well as the generosity of governments to continue their lifesaving work in response to natural disasters, armed conflicts and other emergencies.
effective far government less money negotiate operate places shown studies time toughest
The U.N.'s impartiality allows it to negotiate and operate in some of the toughest places in the world. And time and again, studies have shown that U.N. peacekeeping is far more effective and done with far less money than what any government can do on its own.
closely human kerry peace secretary shared state towards
I look forward to strengthening the U.S.-U.N. partnership and working closely with Secretary of State Kerry towards our shared goals of peace, development, and human rights.
appointed best candidate fill found jobs looked number possible record sake strip within women
Within the U.N. itself, I have appointed a record number of women to high-level positions. I did not fill jobs with women just for the sake of it - I looked for the best possible candidate, and I found that if you strip away discrimination, the best possible candidate is often a woman.
vision citizens tomorrow
You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen.
grandchildren hands suffering
We hold the future in our hands, together, we must ensure that our grandchildren will not have to ask why we failed to do the right thing, and let them suffer the consequences.
exercise justice growth
Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance.