Ban Ki-moon served as the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 2007 to December 2016. Before becoming Secretary-General, he was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He also held the position of foreign minister of South Korea from January 2004 to November 2006. In February 2006, he began to campaign for the office of Secretary-General, leveraging his extensive diplomatic travel to all the countries on the United Nations Security Council, which positioned him as the campaign's front runner.

On 13 October 2006, he was elected to be the eighth Secretary-General by the United Nations General Assembly and succeeded Kofi Annan on 1 January 2007. During his tenure, Ban was instrumental in initiating the 2007 Climate Change Summit, advocating for the Millennium Development Goals with a particular focus on Africa and women’s and children’s health, and leading the creation of UN Women. He also launched several initiatives for women’s rights and gender equality including the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign. His leadership was pivotal in the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in December 2015 and in launching the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Following his term at the United Nations, Ban has continued to engage in significant global initiatives. He currently serves as the President and Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, the Chair of the International Olympic Committee Ethics Commission, and the founder of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. He also chairs the Global Commission on Adaptation, advocating for sustainable development and environmental issues worldwide. His memoir, "Resolved: Uniting Nations in a Divided World," provides insights into his experiences and the diplomatic challenges he faced. Recognized for his ongoing contributions to global peace and development, Ban addresses pressing international issues, inspiring global audiences towards collective action for a sustainable and equitable world.

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