Boutros BOUTROS-GHALI (Chairman, 2003-2006)

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egypt, holds L.L.B. from the Cairo University and a Ph.D. in international law from the Paris University. He also holds separate diplomas in political science, economics and public law from Paris University.

Between 1949 and 1977, Mr. Boutros-Ghali was Professor of International Law and International Relations at Cairo University. He was Member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the Arab Socialist Union (1974-1977), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (1977-1991), Member of the Egyptian Parliament (1987-1991), Vice-President of the Socialist International (1990-1991) and Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1991). He was a member of the International Law Commission (1979-1991) and a member of the International Commission of Jurists (1975-1977).

From 1992 to 1996, Mr. Boutros-Ghali was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations.  He was President of the Society for International Development (1997-2000), and Secretary-General of the International Organization of the Francophonie (1998-2002).

He is currently Chairperson of the International Panel on Democracy and Development created by UNESCO (1997- ), President of the Institute for Mediterranean Political Studies, Club de Monaco (2002- ), and President of the Egyptian National Human Rights Council (2004- ).

Mr. Boutros-Ghali has been a lecturer on international law and relations in a large number of universities in different parts of the world.

He has authored more than 100 publications in English, French and Arabic on regional and international affairs, law and diplomacy, and political science. One of his books Unvanquished: a U.S.-U.N. Saga (1999) has been acclaimed worldwide.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali holds a number of decorations and honorary doctorates.

Throughout his long national and international career, he participated in numerous meetings dealing with international law, human rights, economic and social development, decolonization, the Middle East situation, and international humanitarian law.

Mr. Boutros-Ghali has a very special interest in promoting South-South cooperation and solidarity. He has led delegations of his country to a number of meetings including the UN General Assembly to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), and has taken part in the Summits of the Non-Aligned Movement.