Interview on a system-wide action plan (SWAP) for gender equality and the empowerment of women
Managers at the United Nations have signed an agreement to take on the responsibility for gender mainstreaming. Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, who signed the compact, elaborates on its terms and comprehensive goals.
Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, Under-Secretary-General
for
Communications and Public Information
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has selected Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal of Austria for the position of Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information. Since 2007, Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal had been Spokesman and Head of the Department for Communication and Information of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs.
Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal brings to the position 30 years of experience within the Austrian Foreign Service, particularly in Asia, North America and the Middle East, with responsibilities ranging from public diplomacy and development cooperation to press and information. He has held senior leadership positions in which he was responsible for formulating overall communication strategies, including the extensive use of modern media tools, crisis management and negotiating international agreements. In his previous capacity, Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal worked closely with approximately 100 national offices abroad to define, develop and implement an integrated and coherent message for the Foreign Service.
Multilingualism
The Secretary-General has also appointed Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal to serve as Coordinator for Multilingualism, in implementation of General Assembly resolutions 54/64 of 1999 and 61/266 of 2007 by which the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to appoint a senior official as coordinator of the questions relating to multilingualism throughout the Secretariat.
These functions are in addition to Mr. Launsky-Tieffenthal’s responsibilities as head of the Department of Public Information. He replaces Kiyotaka Akasaka, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service.