THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW

presents the 2011-12 Otto L. Walter Lecture

The United Nations and the Rule of Law

Delivered by
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations

Tuesday, October 4, 2011
6:45 pm – 7:30 pm
New York Law School
185 West Broadway, Auditorium

Ban Ki-moon is the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Prior to becoming Secretary-General, Mr. Ban served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea where his 37 years of service included postings in New Delhi, Vienna, and Washington, D.C. His ties to the United Nations date back to 1975 when he worked for the Foreign Ministry's United Nations Division. His assignments included serving as Chairman of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization and Chef de Cabinet during the Republic of Korea's 2001-2002 presidency of the UN General Assembly. Mr. Ban received a bachelor's degree in international relations from Seoul National University in 1970, and a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985.

As people around the world make increasing claims on their governments for greater transparency, justice, and human rights, a new banner has united them: the rule of law. At this historic juncture, newly constituted governments are looking to the United Nations for assistance in drafting constitutions, rebuilding justice and security institutions, and bringing perpetrators of international crimes to justice. The rule of law is at the very heart of the United Nations mission. The Secretary-General will speak about why the United Nations is involved in the rule of law field, what the United Nations has learned over the last two decades of work in this area, and what changes need to happen to make progress.

All members of the New York Law School community are welcomed to attend. Seating is limited, first come first served.

Due to the overwhelming response to this event,
we are temporarily suspending online registrations.

If you’re interested in doing so, we invite you to secure a seat in the overflow room (Matasar Commons), and a place on the waiting list for the auditorium. Please email alumni@nyls.edu with UNSG in the subject line and your name and New York Law School affiliation in the body of the email.