Jan Egeland is a Norwegian politician and humanitarian, referred to by Time Magazine as “the world’s conscience." He has held numerous high positions with the Red Cross, Red Crescent, Amnesty International, and was the UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator from 2003 to 2006. His humanitarian efforts have focused attention on the world’s most overlooked conflicts and have pressured governments to provide adequate relief aid after countless natural disasters. He is known for his participation in peace processes and has published a number of reports, studies, and articles on conflict resolution, humanitarian affairs, and human rights.

About

Jan Egeland is director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and a professor at the University of Stavangar. Apart from his former position as Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Egeland is also the former United Nations Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Colombia and the former Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General for Conflict Prevention and Resolution. Egeland’s efforts are focused on alleviating the needs of displaced persons and those affected by natural disasters, as well as raising awareness about issues such as gender mainstreaming, and sexual exploitation and violence.

Egeland’s distinguished career includes experience as State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; chair of Amnesty International in Norway; vice-chair of the International Executive Committee of Amnesty International (to which he was elected at the age of 23, the youngest individual to ever hold the position); director for the International Department of the Norwegian Red Cross; head of development studies at the Henry Dunant Institute in Geneva; and a radio and television international news reporter for the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

Egeland is known for his active participation in peace processes. He co-initiated and co-organized the Norwegian channel between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1992, which led to the Oslo Accord (Declaration of Principles) of September 1993. He directed the Norwegian facilitation of UN-led peace talks culminating in the ceasefire agreement between Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) guerrillas signed in Oslo in 1996. He also led the host delegation when the Ottawa Treaty to ban landmines was successfully negotiated and adopted in Oslo in 1997.