Secretary-General Appoints Yukio Takasu of Japan Special Adviser on Human Security

 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Yukio Takasu of Japan as Special Adviser on Human Security.

Mr. Takasu has played a pivotal role in advancing a greater understanding on the notion of human security, both within the United Nations and outside, for more than 10 years.  In 2006, Mr. Takasu initiated the formation of the Friends of Human Security, an informal network to follow up the 2005 United Nations Summit Outcome document.  The Friends of Human Security has met semi-annually since then.

From July 2007 to August 2010, Mr. Takasu was Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations.  During this time, under his co-chairmanship with the Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations, the Friends of Human Security has been instrumental in discussing and advancing collaborative efforts around the notion of human security.  These efforts, combined with those of other Member States, culminated in the formal meeting of the General Assembly plenary on human security in May 2010.

On 16 July 2010, the General Assembly resolution on human security (A/RES/64/291) was adopted by consensus, recognizing the need to continue the discussion on human security and to achieve an agreement on the definition thereof in the General Assembly.

The Secretary-General has requested Mr. Takasu to conduct close consultations with Member States, United Nations system organizations and other stakeholders to facilitate the achievement of a common understanding on the notion of human security.

Mr. Takasu will coordinate closely with the Human Security Unit in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In addition to his extensive knowledge of human security, Mr. Takasu was the Assistant Secretary-General and Controller of the United Nations from 1993 to 1997 where he was responsible for budget and financial management, including peacekeeping operations.  Mr. Takasu was educated at the University of Tokyo (Faculty of Law) and Oxford University (Merton College).  He was born on 29 August 1946.

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