UNA-UK is delighted to announce its two keynote speakers for UN Forum 2014: Valerie Amos and Danilo Türk.
Baroness Amos has been UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator since September 2010.
She is responsible for the oversight of all emergencies requiring UN humanitarian assistance, which currently include Syria, Central African Republic, South Sudan and the Philippines. Before joining the UN, she served as UK Secretary of State for International Development, becoming the first black woman to sit on the Cabinet, and as Leader of the House of Lords. She has a long track record as a leading campaigner for human rights, social justice and equality.
At UN Forum, she will deliver the morning keynote address and be interviewed by Channel 4's Jon Snow.
H.E. Dr Danilo Türk was President of Slovenia from 2007 to 2012, and served as UN Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.
Dr Türk has a distinguished background in international law, human rights and UN issues. He was the first Slovenian Permanent Representative to the UN, following the country's independence, and served on the Security Council during his posting. He also served as a member of the UN Human Rights Committee - a group of independent experts who monitor states' performance on civil and political rights.
Previously, he was director of the Institute for International Law, University of Ljubljana; a member of Slovenian Constitutional Commission; and co-author of the human rights chapter of the 1991 Slovenian Constitution.
At UN Forum, he will deliver the afternoon keynote address and be interviewed by Sir Jeremy Greenstock, UNA-UK Chairman and former British Ambassador to the UN.
