SOC/4554

UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE COUNCIL APPOINTS GRACA MACHEL AS CHANCELLOR

San Jose, Costa Rica 13 December –- The Council of the University for Peace (the University’s governing body), announced at the conclusion of its twelfth session in San Jose, Costa Rica, the appointment of a new Chancellor, Graça Machel of South Africa and Mozambique.

Well known for her leadership on issues related to education, human rights and gender equity, she is the first woman and the first black person in the 170-year history of the University of Cape Town to be named as its Chancellor. Internationally, she is particularly well known for the landmark study she undertook for the United Nations Secretary-General on the impact of armed conflict on children.

Maurice Strong, President of the University for Peace Council, announced that the Council had unanimously and enthusiastically welcomed the leadership of Dr. Machel, particularly in guiding the expansion of its programmes in Africa and also those which address the vulnerabilities of women and children and the impacts on them of conflict.

The Council also reappointed Maurice Strong as its President and Dr. Elizabeth Odio, Vice-President of Costa Rica, as Vice-President of the Council. These appointments were accompanied by decisions to launch a series of programmes and initiatives which include: the establishment of a University for Peace Centre and Policy Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, for research on the fundamental causes of conflict, made possible by a generous contribution from the Schwab Foundation; an expanded programme of education, training and research on peace-related issues in various regions of the world, particularly Africa; the establishment of a Media and Peace Institute to be located in Europe; and the development of a Centre for Human Security in cooperation with the University of British Columbia, Canada, under the leadership of the former Foreign Minister of Canada, Lloyd Axworthy.

The University for Peace Council also announced the establishment of a Council of Honour headed by Costa Rica’s former President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Dr. Oscar Arias, and consisting of other Nobel Peace Prize laureates, as well as a number of other persons who have made similarly distinguished contributions to the cause of peace and security throughout the world.

The University for Peace was established by an International Agreement approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December 1980 to “provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all human beings a spirit of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation amongst people, and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and

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progress in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations.”

On the initiative of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, the University for Peace is now launched upon a major programme of development and the international extension of its education and research activities under the guidance of its Council.

Below are a brief curriculum vitae of Dr. Graça Machel and a list of Members of the Council of the University for Peace:

Graça Machel was Minister for Education of Mozambique until 1989 and the Chairperson of the National Organization of Children of Mozambique, an organization that places orphans in village homes. She has worked closely with families in her efforts to rehabilitate children, has acted to empower Mozambican women, and has been a major force on behalf of worldwide literacy. As President of the Foundation of Community Development, she has also increased community access in Mozambique to information and technology necessary for development.

Dr. Machel was a delegate to the 1998 United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Conference in Zimbabwe, is president of the National Commission of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and served on the international steering committee of the 1990 World Conference on Education for All. In 1994 she was appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to chair the Study on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children, and spent the following two years travelling to investigate the plight of children in countries beset by war.

For her myriad achievements, Ms. Machel has received many awards. She received the 1992 Africa Prize, awarded annually to an individual who has contributed to the goal of eliminating hunger in Africa by the year 2000. In recognition of her outstanding contributions on behalf of refugee children, she received the 1995 Nansen Medal from the United Nations and was the recipient of InterAction’s humanitarian award for 1997.

She is the widow of the first president of Mozambique. She is married to the former President of the Republic of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, and divides her time between activities in Maputo, Mozambique and South Africa

Dr. Machel is also Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, the first woman and the first black person to hold this position in the University’s 170-year history.

Members of the Council

Hon. Maurice Strong President of the Council and Rector, Executive Committee Member Canada

H.E. (Dr.) Elizabeth Odio Benito Vice President of Costa Rica Vice President of the UPEACE Council Executive Committee Member Costa Rica

Professor Yuri Nikolaevich Afanasiev Russian State University for Humanities Russian Federation

Dr. (Ms.) Attiya Inayatullah International Planned Parenthood Federation, United Kingdom Pakistan

Dr. Sverre Lodgaard Director, Norwegian Institute for International Relations Executive Committee Member Norway

Professor Elikia M’Bokolo Centre d’Etudes Africaines, France Congo

H.E. Ambassador Hisashi Owada President, The Japan Institute of International Affairs Japan

Dr. (Ms.) Anaisabel Prera Flores Guatemala

Dr. Steven C. Rockefeller Chair, Rockefeller Brothers Fund U.S.A.

Ambassador Mohamed Sahnoun Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Executive Committee Member Algeria

Professor Rodolfo Stavenhagen Centro de Estudios Sociológicos, El Colegio de México México Ambassador Sonia Picado Sotela Member of the Legislative Assembly Costa Rica

Mr. Nitin Desai United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Social and Economic Affairs, New York Ex-officio Member Executive Committee Member India

Professor Hans van Ginkel Rector, United Nations University Ex-officio Member The Netherlands

Professor Dumitru Chitoran Representative of Director General UNESCO, France Ex-officio Member Executive Committee Member Romania

For further information please contact: Ms. Ivonne Aguilar, Media Coordinator; Tel.: 205-90-00; Fax: 249-1929; email: .

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