António Guterres

António Guterres, the Portuguese statesman and current secretary-general of the United Nations, was born on April 30, 1949.

The Carnation Revolution took place on 25 April 1974, leading to the end of Marcelo Caetano's dictatorship in Portugal.

António Guterres was elected to the Portuguese Parliament in 1976 and served as a member for 17 years. During his tenure, he chaired the Parliamentary Committee for Economy, Finance and Planning, and later the Parliamentary Committee for Territorial Administration, Municipalities and Environment. He also served as the leader of his party’s parliamentary group.

In 1978, António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), which was a significant event in his career.

In the 1981 selection, China cast a record 16 vetoes against a third term for Kurt Waldheim, which led to the establishment of a customary but unofficial term limit of two full terms for the UN Secretary-General. This event significantly impacted the tenure regulations for the Secretary-General role.

In 1991, António Guterres played a key role in the establishment of the Portuguese Refugee Council, demonstrating his commitment to refugee rights and humanitarian causes.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali became the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations in January 1992, succeeding Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. He served as the head of the UN during a period of significant global events and challenges.

António Guterres was appointed as the Prime Minister of Portugal by President Mário Soares on 28 October 1995.

In 2001, António Guterres took office as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), leading the agency's efforts to protect and support refugees worldwide.

On June 14, 2002, António Guterres was honored with the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic by Spain.

From 2005 to 2015, António Guterres served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

António Guterres was elected High Commissioner for Refugees for a five-year term by the UN General Assembly in May 2005, replacing Ruud Lubbers.

António Guterres served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015, leading the organization during significant displacement crises, including conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and crises in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Yemen.

During his visit to Beijing, China, in March 2006, António Guterres expressed his objection to the repatriation of North Korean refugees by the Chinese government.

In a February 2007 NPR interview, Guterres highlighted the plight of Iraqi refugees, describing it as one of the greatest refugee crises in the Middle East since 1948. He also mentioned poorly publicized refugee crises in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In 2012, António Guterres appointed American actress Angelina Jolie as his special envoy to represent UNHCR and himself at the diplomatic level, leading to joint visits to various refugee facilities and appearances before the United Nations Security Council in 2015.

In June 2013, Guterres launched a US$5 billion aid effort, the biggest ever, to help up to 10.25 million Syrians that year.

Guterres was appointed as the UN's 9th secretary-general in 2015.

On February 29, 2016, António Guterres submitted his nomination as Portugal's candidate for the 2016 UN Secretary-General selection, marking the beginning of the formal process leading to his eventual election.

On April 4, 2016, the nomination process for the Secretary-General began.

On October 5, 2016, the 15-member United Nations Security Council announced that it had agreed to nominate António Guterres, after an informal secret ballot.

António Guterres was formally nominated by the U.N. Security Council as the organization’s next Secretary General. He will be the first national leader to take the role as the world’s top diplomat.

On October 13, 2016, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution to formally appoint António Guterres of Portugal as the Secretary-General for a five-year term starting on January 1, 2017.

On December 12, 2016, the swearing-in ceremony for the Secretary-General took place.

On January 1, 2017, António Guterres commenced his five-year term as the secretary-general of the United Nations.

In March 2018, António Guterres described the population of Syria's Eastern Ghouta as living in 'hell on earth', with 93% of buildings damaged or destroyed by December. A recent wave of bombings has caused further destruction.

António Guterres referred to the 2018 North Korea–United States summit as a 'crucial milestone' for nuclear disarmament and urged both sides to 'seize this momentous opportunity'. He also offered UN assistance to achieve the goal of dismantling North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

In August 2018, António Guterres called for an independent investigation into a Saudi Arabian-led coalition air strike in Yemen that resulted in the deaths of 51 civilians, including 40 children.

During his address to the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, Guterres highlighted the potential disruption of labor markets by advancing technology and advocated for stronger safety nets like Universal Basic Income.

During a visit to the pacific island of Tuvalu, Guterres emphasized the obligation of the U.N. to assume global leadership in tackling climate change, highlighting his support for multilateral environmental initiatives.

Guterres condemned Israeli plans to annex the eastern portion of the occupied West Bank known as the Jordan Valley, expressing deep concern about the escalating violence in Syria and emphasizing the need for a solution that respects sovereignty and unity.

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary General, spoke during a press briefing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on February 4, 2020.

Following the explosion in Beirut, Guterres expressed support for all people in need in Lebanon, especially women and girls who are most vulnerable in times of crisis, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in overcoming the impact of the explosion.

Guterres appealed for global solidarity to overcome COVID-19, calling for a global ceasefire by the end of 2020, highlighting the need for unity and cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic.

Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalation of hostilities in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to immediately halt fighting and progress towards a peaceful resolution, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

The United Nations Security Council expressed support for António Guterres' re-election as secretary-general.

On June 18, 2021, António Guterres was appointed by acclamation to serve a second term as the UN secretary-general.

António Guterres meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss proposals for humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of civilians from conflict zones, particularly the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukraine.

Guterres, along with Turkey, brokered a deal between Russia and Ukraine, facilitating the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.

On November 7, 2023, António Guterres was honored with the Collar of the Order of Charles III by Spain.

The appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the term starting from January 9, 2024.