USA
The 193-member UN General Assembly has approved the appointment of former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres as the organisation’s new secretary general.
The next mandate runs from January 1, 2017, for a period of five years.
Peace
Justice
Human dignity
Tolerance
SolidarityAntónio Guterres' vision as next UN Secretary-General, see more: https://t.co/fe8pwQc7Qv pic.twitter.com/AhbzuwwWxr
— United Nations (@UN) October 13, 2016
#StayTuned 10am EST: Official appointment of António Guterres as #NextSG followed by stakeout at 11.15am. Watch live https://t.co/1Wh5hlG60y
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) October 13, 2016
The backstory
The UN Security Council recently unanimously nominated Guterres to replace Ban Ki-moon.
The 72-year-old from South Korea will step down at the end of 2016 after two terms in office.
Guterres was prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002.
He served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015.
The 67-year-old says he will make prevention of conflict a priority, based around the three pillars of UN action: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.
.
— La France à l'ONU (franceonu) October 13, 2016un
General Assembly endorses Antonio Guterres by acclamation #NextSG - we officially have a new Secretary-General! pic.twitter.com/xFpgKemWI1
Where will António Guterres take the
— UNOPS (UNOPS) October 13, 2016UN
? Read his vision statement from April: https://t.co/CbDDWh3SuT #NextSG pic.twitter.com/qaFgQIxEnM
What you need to know about Antonio Guterres
- Born in Lisbon, 30 April, 1949
- Socialist
- 20 years pre-UN in government and public service
- Founded the Portuguese Refugee Council in 1991
- Portuguese prime minister 1995-2002
- 2005-2015 UN High Commissioner for Refugees
00:42
US vetoes Palestine UN membership resolution
01:30
UN reports widening global inequality in sexual and reproductive health and rights
01:41
UN Libya envoy Abdoulaye Bathily resigns amidst mediation challenges
01:57
South Sudanese parties adopt code of conduct ahead of December elections
01:26
After two months of blockage, food aid deliveries resume in Darfur- UN
01:34
South Sudan: UNMISS and partners commission centre to assist survivors of conflict