Ban Ki-moon Meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing

May 16, 2018

Ban Ki-moon and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing, China. The two leaders discussed how China can best apply its political leadership power in making Asia an important platform for promoting harmonious coexistence of the people around the world.

As host country of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) of which Ban is the Chairman, China promised to support the BFA to amplify its influence. Xi said that

    1. “the mission and purpose of the forum is to promote economic integration in Asia, boost exchanges and cooperation between regional countries and the world, to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results.”

Ban emphasized on the importance of promoting Asia’s openness and innovation to obtain strength and to solve global issues through unification of Asian countries.

During his official visit to Beijing, Ban also appreciated Xi’s support for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in making strategic decisions.

  1. “China has been playing a very important role,” Ban said, “I hope for and I urged him to continue to render his strong political leadership so that North Korea will be bound by all these agreements which will come out from the US-North Korean Summit and also the sincere implementation of Panmunjom declaration.”

Source: http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1102482.shtml
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/16/ban-ki-moon-iran-deal-pullout-sends-bad-message-to-north-korea.html
Photo: Boao Forum for Asia

CEO Monika Froehler Conducts Workshop at the Regional Academy on the United Nations 2018

May 11, 2018

CEO Monika Froehler of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens was invited to give a lecture-workshop at the Regional Academy on the United Nations (RAUN) held at the Vienna International Centre today. RAUN is an international and multi-disciplinary program that allows youth to discuss issues related to the UN and international affairs. Participants are Master and PhD students who get to conduct group research projects in close cooperation with an international organization like UNDP, UNODC, UNIDO, UNEP, IOM, OSCE etc. This year’s theme is “Innovations for Development: Towards Peaceful, Sustainable and Inclusive Societies.”

During the workshop, 48 students learned about the Ban Ki-moon Centre’s vision and work and participated in group works on the topic of global citizenship. The students were split into working groups to brainstorm and exchange ideas about the concept of global citizenship and how to effectively promote it. One speaker of each group presented on the outcomes of their discussion. The winner team was awarded the Ban Ki-moon Centre pin.

The first sessions of this year´s RAUN class were held in Bratislava and Vienna from May 9-11. The RAUN scholars will continue their journey to Budapest in September and come back to Vienna from 15-18 in January 2019. The academic responsibility for the program is carried by the RAUN project manager headquartered in Vienna.

With assistance from mentors, UN practitioners and guest lecturers, the participants will write research papers which will be published through RAUN. Their research will result in the students developing their knowledge in respective areas, integrate theoretical knowledge on policy situations, advance practical thinking, obtain methodological tools for research, and advance their competence to analyze.

Source: http://www.ra-un.org/

Ban Ki-moon Speaks about the Importance of Youth Leadership for Sustainable Development

May 8, 2018

As the Honororay Chair of the IGEE, Ban Ki-moon gave a speech about the “Importance of the Youth Leadership for Sustainable Development” at Yonsei University Wonju campus. The lecture was given on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the campus’ founding, and about 700 students and general public attended the lecture. Among the attendees, there were foreign students from developing countries, who were selected for the KOICA’s master’s scholarship program to study at Yonsei University.

With focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN as well as visions of global citizenship, Ban’s words inspired aspiring leaders and youth to actively engage themselves to be part of making changes for co-development of global village. Ban emphasized on the need of youth leadership in rapid growth of the world and encouraged the young generation to grow as talented global citizens that contribute to the world’s peace and prosperity of all mankind.

Photo: Yonsei University Wonju Campus

UN Youth Envoy on Youth Empowerment in the Field of Peace and Security

May 2, 2018

Last week, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, the Envoy of the Secretary-General on Youth, along with two other young female speakers, Sofia Pierre-Antoine and Kessy Ekomo-Soignet, delivered inspiring speeches at the UN Security Council (UNSC) on youth empowerment in the field of peace and security. Ms. Wickramanayake emphasized how young people, especially young women are engaging themselves in active movement to lead changes in the field.

The UNSC announced the resolution 2250 which was the first international policy framework to recognize young people’s roles in conflict prevention and resolution, and peace building in 2015. In accordance with the UNSCR 2250, a Youth4Peace community has been putting power of young men and women together to promote and maintain international peace and security.

As three years have passed now, she points out there are still existing issues of “the growing mistrust from young generations towards former political institutions” and “the exclusion of young people from political, civic, and economic life.” In attempts to solve these issues, the youth envoy strongly asked the UN Security Council to broaden opportunities for young people to participate and contribute in the matter while at the same time working on reducing the mistrust between the youth, their governments, and the multilateral system.

She made three suggestions:

  1. Support, recognize, fund, scale up, and protect the peacebuilding of young people.
  2. Prioritize political participation for young people to be fully engaged.
  3. Partner to continue efforts and promote the youth’s activities.

Watch Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake’s speech at the UNSC 2018 here.

Source: https://www.youth4peace.info
Photo: UN Photo by Mark Garten

Ban Ki-moon Meets the Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre

April 30, 2018

The Co-chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met the Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre Lee Hyuk on April 30th.

Mr. Ban Ki-moon congratulated the 4th Secretary General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre on his inauguration that took place on April 16th. Previously, Mr. Lee has served as the Ambassador at the Korean Embassies in the Philippines and Vietnam.

ASEAN-Korea Centre was established with aims to enlarge trades, promote investments, enhance cooperation on culture and tourism, and to activate human exchanges between Korea and the ASEAN countries. ASEAN consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Mr. Ban also encouraged the ASEAN-Korea Centre to make continuous efforts to build a stronger, sustainable partnership between the ASEAN countries and Korea.

The ASEAN-Korea Centre is currently accepting applicants for the 2018 ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop that will be held in two places, Seoul and Manila, on July 2nd-12th. The deadline for the application submission is May 24th.

Source: https://www.aseankorea.org/eng/Activities/activities_view.asp?pageNum=20&page=1&boa_num=12792&boa_gubun=2&pageReturn=Activities&boa_cnt=49&S_YEAR=&S_MONTH=&S_GUBUN=0&rownum=1
Source: http://www.aseankorea.org/eng/Activities/Activities_view.asp?page=1&boa_num=12789&boa_gubun=6&pageReturn=Activities&boa_cnt=0&S_YEAR=&S_MONTH=&S_GUBUN=0&rownum=1
Photo: ASEAN-Korea Centre

Ban Ki-moon and Heinz Fischer´s Remarks on Efforts for Peace and Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula

April 30, 2018

A historic Inter-Korean summit between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea took place on 27 April 2018 between South Korea´s President Moon Jae-in and the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The summit took place after the two sides held several meetings in preparation for the joint attendance at the 2018 Winter Olympics. The summit was focused on the North Korean nuclear weapons program and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea´s President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.”

The Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula was adopted. According to the declaration, North and South Korea agreed to work together on ending the Korean War, beginning a new era of peace and sharing commitments in ending divisions and confrontation by approaching a new era of national reconciliation, peace and prosperity and improvements to inter-Korean relations.

 

“A historic day for Korea! We sincerely wish that it will pave the way for lasting peace and denuclearization on the Korean peninsula”, the two Co-Chairmen of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, former UNSG, Ban Ki-moon and former Federal President of Austria, Heinz Fischer remarked via Twitter.

 

Korea Promotes Two Austrian Nuns for the Nobel Peace Prize  

April 27, 2018

Dr. Heinz Fischer welcomed the Former Prime Minister of the Republic of South Korea, H.E. Kim Hwang-sik at the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens in Vienna.

The former Korean Prime Minister visited the Centre with a delegation from South Korea´s Jeollanamdo province a day after they had a meeting with his Holiness, Pope Francis in the Vatican in Rome.

H.E. Kim Hwang-sik and Heinz Fischer, former President of Austria and co-chairman of the Ban Ki-moon Centre spoke about the current situation in North and South Korea and the theme of global citizenship. In addition, the Korean delegation presented the ongoing South Korean effort of promoting and commemorating the outstanding humanitarian work of two Austrian nurses Marianne Stöger and Margaret Pissarek on the isolated island Sorodko, caring for thousands of leprosy infected Korean patients.

Former Prime Minister of the Republic of South Korea, H.E. Kim Hwang-sik, Co-Chairman Heinz Fischer, CEO Monika Frohler and members of the South Korean Delegation.

The Korean government is in the process of recommending the two Austrian nurses as candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize to honour their more than 40 years of dedication to leprosy patients.

Initiatives to commemorate the two women have grown nationwide in Korea over the last few years. For example, in April 2016, the nurses were invited by the Sorokdo National Hospital, Sorokdo Catholic Church and Goheung County to attend the hospital’s centennial anniversary. Ms Stoeger attended the event, while Ms Pissarek was unable to attend due to illness.

Vienna’s Urania Cinema screened a two-hour documentary entitled “Marianne and Margaret”, about the nuns’ efforts on the Korean island in the evening and the movie was shown publicly on Korean and Austrian TV before.

The Austrian Newspaper Kurier had the opportunity of speaking to H.E.  Kim Hwang-sik during his visit to Vienna.

Women Mediator’s Networks Meeting in Oslo: Connecting for Inclusive Peace-Making

April 13, 2018

This past March 2018, the CEO of the Ban Ki-moon Centre Monika Froehler participated in the inaugural meeting of regional women mediators’ networks in Oslo, Norway. The gathering brought together members from the already established womens’ networks, including the Nordic Women Mediators Network (est. 2015), FemWise-Africa (est. 2017), and the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (est. 2017). They were joined by representatives from the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Advisory Board on Mediation and UN entities including the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, the Department of Political Affairs and UN Women. In addition, representatives from the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as members of the Commonwealth Secretariat, civil society and academia, took part in the meeting to discuss the vital role of women in peace processes.

17 years have passed since the adaption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Since its adaption, the positive and decisive role played by women in peace processes has been widely acknowledged by the international community. The inclusion of women has been shown to be crucial, not only in matters of women’s rights, but also to improve operational effectiveness, build resilience, prevent and resolve conflicts, and to sustain peace. Despite this widespread knowledge supported by evidence and robust research, women remain drastically underrepresented in peace and security talks.

The gathering discussed ways to increase the representation of women in peace and security processes. The Nordic Women Mediators Network hosted the meeting along with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution (NOREF), and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Norwegian Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, UN Under-Secretary-General Ana Maria Menendez, Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, and former UN Under-Secretarty-General Noeleen Heyzer, all spoke at the event.

All attendees agreed to continue working together to promote the inclusion of women in peace processes by seeking-out synergies and looking into the option of creating a global network of women mediators. As a first step towards the goal of creating an alliance of regional women mediator networks, an initial contact group was formed.

Summarizing the goals and aspirations of the group, the Norwegian Foreign Minister Søreide stated,
“It is my hope that this initiative will contribute to progress in this field, and that the next reports of the Secretary-General on women, peace and security will show an increase in women’s participation in mediation, and an increase in women’s influence in peace processes.”

Ban Ki-moon Elected Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA)

April 11, 2018

This week Former United Nations Secretary-General and Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, H.E. Ban Ki-moon, was elected chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), replacing former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The Boao Forum is often referred to as the “Davos” of Asia.

Founded in 2001, the Boao Forum for Asia is a non-profit organisation and non-governmental organisation that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large. It is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.

During the BFA Board of Directors meeting the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong was appointed BFA Secretary-General.

The theme of this year’s BFA conference, which runs from April 8 to 11 in Boao, a town in the southern island province of Hainan, is “An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity.” Find more information on their website: http://english.boaoforum.org 

At this year´s Boao Forum for Asia the Republic of Austria was represented by a delegation of more than 250 governmental officials and entrepreneurs led by the Federal President of the Republic of Autria, H.E. Alexander Van der Bellen and the Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, H.E. Sebastian Kurz.

Photo: Giles Clarke

“Let´s join together to  find common solutions for common challenges and new solutions for new challenges” – said H.E. Alexander Van der Bellen during his speech at the Boao Forum for Asia earlier this week.

International Women’s Day 2018

March 8, 2018

March 8th is the International Women’s Day (IWD), a day to celebrate and empower women by reflecting on progress made in education, economics, politics, business, and many other aspects of society and calling for more changes to take a bigger step closer to gender parity. The Ban Ki-moon Centre works for empowering women as global citizens within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Women hold up more than half the sky and represent much of the world’s unrealized potential. They are the educators. They raise the children. They hold families together and increasingly drive economies. They are natural leaders. We need their full engagement … in government, business and civil society,” said former UNSG Ban Ki-moon.

Though there have been significant improvements achieved, unequal treatments and norms against women in different places still continue to exist. Such restrictions emasculate women, and it requires efforts from all people regardless of their gender and synergy from varied organizations, institutes, governments, and media to make further changes. It is not solely women’s or a single entity’s responsibility to make a progress, but everyone’s as a world-renowned feminist journalist and social and political activist

Gloria Steinem points out, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

Following the #PressforProgress campaign by the IWD, Women at the UN – Accountability Buddy Network (WUNABN) hosted a conference in Vienna, Austria today to actively engage women in exchanging their experiences of achieving gender parity and to give out practical know-hows on job applications, interviews, and how to find the right path in their career plan. Find more information on their website: https://wunabn.org/womens-day-2018/conference

The IWD thus brings everyone, every entity, and every country together to celebrate the day and to make a progress from individual level to governmental and from local level to global. As the world has witnessed empowerment being contagious with butterfly effect for the past century, one can hope that soon the IWD will be celebrated with reflections on achievements without any need for a call to action. Watch the UN Women’s inspirational video on International Women’s Day 2018: “The Time is Now” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXCnHvQzoOU

Source: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Photo: UN Photo by Ky Chung