Mr Ban Ki-moon visited Charles University












            ******************************************************************************************

            * Mr Ban Ki-moon visited Charles University
            ******************************************************************************************
            On Friday April 4, Charles University in Prague hosted a lecture by the General Secretary 

            Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon. The lecture, entitled "The Czech Republic and the United Nations:
            Development and Human Rights in a Changing World", was held in the Magna Aula of the Carol
            used for Charles University's official ceremonies and graduations. Understandably, interes

            was high, and guests included various ambassadors, members of the press, Czech representat
            UN, Charles University's Rector and a number of its Vice-Rectors, representatives of the C
            Sciences, along with a number of lucky students. As a journalist with iForum, I was lucky 

            a seat right at front, amidst the national press and diplomatic community, and a clear vie
            proceedings.

            Before the lecture Charles University's Rector, Professor Tomáš Zima, awarded Mr Ban with 
            Charles University, as an expression of both friendship and respect, and in recognition of
            with the United Nations. Mr Ban thanked Professor Zima and the University for the award, a

            on behalf of the UN peacekeepers working worldwide: it is through their efforts and sacrif
            rights and peace are protected, he said, and they are the ones who deserve awards and reco
            Mr Ban's speech started with a focus on the Czech Republic. He praised the country as an e

            of the path towards democracy, referring back to the peaceful Velvet Revolution of 1989, w
            deposition of Czechoslovakia's authoritarian Communist government. He also highlighted the
            UN's Czech delegates, particularly in the UN Human Rights Committee, in maintaining and es

            peace worldwide. Mr Ban highlighted the continued importance of the UN and the need for pe
            today's world. He spoke about the current crisis in the Ukraine, and his hopes that diplom
            discussion would help to deescalate the situation.

            Mr Ban moved on to discuss his main priorities for the rest of his term as UN General Secr
            first is the fulfillment of the UN's Millennium Development Goals, established in 2000, by
            significant progress has been made in meeting the Goals, Mr Ban claimed, much more needs t

            the Goals are met. He also highlighted the importance of combatting climate change: his fr
            around the world in his role as General Secretary of the UN mean Mr Ban has seen first-han
            climate change, and spoke of his determination to bring the issue to the top of the global

            emphasised the need for more opportunities for women, mentioning his own efforts to ensure
            involved in leading roles in the UN during his terms as General Secretary.
            Mr Ban's other main priority is the need to provide more opportunities for young people: y

            will be the leaders of tomorrow and it is the duty of today's leaders to ensure they are a
            prepared to take charge of the world. Youth today have unprecedented opportunities, he cla
            we need greater conviction if we are to change the world. Mr Ban ended his lecture with an

            audience: for real progress to be made in the future, we must all become global citizens w
            responsibility for the whole world. Afterwards, Mr Ban signed Charles University's memoria
            Mr Ban's speech was passionate and heartfelt: it was easy to hear, especially when he disc

            priorities for the UN, how strongly he felt about the issues he was discussing. On the who
            was well received, although a number of students I spoke to afterwards said they felt the 
            too idealistic and general. Indeed, it would have been very interesting to hear Mr Ban tal

            the changes he desired might be achieved, rather than just hearing him list problems that 
            the "leaders of tomorrow", the students I talked to were particularly interested in hearin
            Ban's ideas on improving opportunities for youth and solving problems like widespread yout

            However, despite this one criticism, it was wonderful to have the opportunity to hear Mr B
            that I am certainly very grateful to have had.                                            
            Natalie James is an undergraduate history student at University College London, currently 
            She joined the online magazine iForum to become more aware of and involved in student life