Oral history interview with Juan Somavía, 2001

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Name: Somavía, Juan (Interviewee); Weiss, Thomas G. (Thomas George), 1946- (Interviewer)
Title: Oral history interview with Juan Somavía, 2001
Abstract: Background and childhood: born in Britain to diplomat father, 1941, various childhood homes: Dominican Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, United States, Ecuador; education: Catholic University of Chile, University of Paris; career: General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade [GATT] Kennedy Round, 1966, ambassador and advisor to Chilean foreign minister on regional and multilateral issues, 1968-73, foun der executive-director and president of Latin American Institute for Transnational Studies, 1976-1990, South American Peace Commission, 1985-, permanent representative to the United Nations [UN], 1990-99, chair, World Summit for Social Development, 1995, president of Economic and Social Council [ECOSOC], 1993-94, 1998-99, president of Security Council, 1996, 1997, chair, board of UN Research Institute for Social Development [UNRISD], 1996-99; themes: living in various countries during childhood leading to greater understanding of multiculturalism and respect, trade development and regional integration of Latin America, reminiscences of military coup d'etat in Chile, human rights struggles, inability of UN to mobilize new ideas, impacts of global conferences on economic and social issues, UN prioritization of issues, effects of Cold War on conflict management in UN, recommendations for ECOSOC reform, unemployment, development of "decent work" concept in International Labour Organization [ILO], family reminiscences, colleague reminiscences
Collection Name: United Nations intellectual history project (UNIHP)
Subjects: Economic development--Latin America; Human rights; Cold War; Labor policy; Chile History Coup d'état, 1973; Somavía, Juan; United Nations Officials and employees; United Nations History; International Labour Organisation; United Nations. Economic and Social Council
Format: oral histories; sound recordings
Genre: Interviews
Date: 2001

Note (Biographical): Director-General of International Labour Organization
Note: Interviewed by Thomas G. Weiss on October 2, 2001
Note (Provenance): Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, Gift, 2009
Language: English
Library Location: Columbia Center for Oral History, Columbia University
Catalog Record: 13685275
Persistent URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.7916/d8-ah5s-j843
Related URLs: Available digital content for this interview.