Nobel

Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan was born on 8^th of April, 1938 in Kumasi, (Gold Coast) now Ghana.  Kofi Annan is married to Nane, a lawyer and a painter. Kofi and Nane have three children’s.  His father is a provincial governor and a chief of the Fante people.  The Noble Peace Prize award was given to Kofi Annan and the United Nations in 2001.  Kofi Annan received many medals, honors, and international prizes also.  His most noted award is the Nobel Peace Prize which he won in 2001.  He recognized the importance of the award regarding his work. In his Nobel Prize address, Kofi Annan states:

What it does have is the Nobel Prize – a statement of hope and courage with unique resonance and authority. Only by understanding and addressing the needs of individuals for peace, for dignity, and for security can we at the United Nations hope to live up to the honors conferred today, and fulfill the vision of our founders. This is the broad mission of peace that United Nations staff members carry out every day in every part of the world.  (Nobel Lecture, Oslo, December 10, 2001, Kofi Annan Para. 21.)

If feel like he stated this in a form of winning the Nobel Peace Prize does not mean a lot, but show that they will live up to preserve humanity.

Kofi Annan studied in Kumasi at University of Science and Technology.  He later finished his undergraduate in economics at Macalester College in Saint Paul, MN in 1961 and then took economics at the University of Institute of des hautes etudes Internationals in Geneva. Kofi Annan received his Master of Science degree in Massachusetts Institute if Technology’s Sloan School of Management in 1971-1972.  Kofi Annan joined the World Health Organization in 1962 in Geneva.  He later served with the high office UN High Commissioner for Refugees.  Kofi Annan was the first to be elected from the UN staff.  Also, he was the first African to be elected for Sectary General. 

His first five year term began January 1^st, 1997; he was re-appointed in 2002. His work contributed to a better organized and more peaceful world.  As secretary-general, his goal was to reform the United Nations and make the system more effective.  He also, advocated for human rights and the rule of law.  Kofi Annan had the idea to create two new governmental houses with in the United Nations: the Peace building and the Human Rights Council. The Global Fund to fight AIDS was another initiated that was brought with Kofi Annan’s work and S1.5 billion in pledges and contributions to the AIDS Global Fund.  (Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo, Kofi Annan Biography, p2.)  His work through his Global Compact is responsible for protecting all the people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crime against humanist. (Former Secretaries-General, Http://www.un.org/sg/annan.shtml, p1)  In 2000, an outline was made to end poverty and inequality, improve education, cut HIV/AIDS, and protect people from violence.

In his Nobel acceptance speech:

In the 21st Century I believe the mission of the United Nations will be defined by a new, more profound, awareness of the sanctity and dignity of every human life, regardless of race or religion. This will require us to look beyond the framework of States, and beneath the surface of nations or communities. We must focus, as never before, on improving the conditions of the individual men and women who give the state or nation its richness and character. We must begin with the young Afghan girl, recognizing that saving that one life is to save humanity itself. (Nobel Lecture, Oslo, December 10, 2001, Kofi Annan Para. 3). 

I feel that this quote will define the United Nation to become more successful in the work of protecting humanity its self.

Over all, Kofi Annan has a long and hard dedication to his work that proves that he is well deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.  His work shows that he is capable to prove that one’s hard work for the safety, security, and peace will make a big impact on the world.