Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is a South Korean diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations from 2007 to 2016.
Paris Agreement: A 2015 international treaty committing countries to limit global warming through nationally determined climate plans. Ban helped secure the agreement, making climate diplomacy a defining achievement of his tenure.
United Nations Secretary-General: The chief administrative officer of the United Nations, appointed by the General Assembly on the Security Council’s recommendation. This office defines Ban’s formal authority and the limits of his influence.
South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The government ministry responsible for South Korea’s foreign relations and diplomatic service. Ban spent decades in its diplomatic service before becoming secretary-general.
Boutros Boutros-Ghali: An Egyptian diplomat who served as the sixth United Nations secretary-general from 1992 to 1996. His assertive public advocacy contrasts with Ban’s more discreet diplomatic style.
Sustainable Development Goals: Seventeen global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to advance human well-being and environmental sustainability by 2030. Ban championed the goals and helped establish them as the successor to the Millennium Development Goals.
United Nations Security Council: The United Nations body responsible for maintaining international peace and security, with fifteen members and five permanent members. The Council recommended Ban for the post and shaped the conflicts he addressed as secretary-general.
South Korean diplomacy: The conduct of South Korea’s relations with other states and international organizations. Ban’s national diplomatic career supplied the experience and networks behind his international ascent.
Responsibility to Protect: A United Nations-endorsed principle that states must protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. Controversy over its use in Libya tested Ban’s support for intervention and the principle’s limits.
Millennium Development Goals: Eight United Nations goals adopted in 2000 to address poverty, disease, education, and other development challenges by 2015. Their 2015 deadline fell during Ban’s tenure, prompting negotiations over a broader successor framework.
United Nations General Assembly: The United Nations’ main deliberative body, in which all member states have representation and one vote. The Assembly appointed Ban after the Security Council recommended him.