The world's largest gathering of international dignitaries is held in September each year at United Nations Headquarters in New York City! In this series we introduce some of the people behind the scenes of the UN General Assembly who make what has been called the World Cup of Diplomacy happen! Over the course of the series we'll get a firsthand glimpse into various departments within the UN and how they prepare for some of the busiest weeks of the year at the United Nations.
The Protocol department at the United Nations is in charge of making sure that all proper customs and regulations are followed when meeting with foreign dignitaries. United Nations staff liaise with representatives from all 193 Member States in various capacities, so the Protocol department's work is critical in ensuring that no unintentional mistakes in etiquette lead to diplomatic tensions.
Meet Hans Grohmann, a Senior Protocol Officer who has covered 25 UN General Assemblies. You'll learn how he prepares to welcome foreign dignitaries from all over the world all while ensuring that everything runs smoothly without being seen! For Mr. Grohmann the nature of Protocol means that their work must be kept in the shadows; if everything runs seamlessly then there's no need to see them...and if you do see him, then that means something's wrong!
Behind the Scenes of the United Nations General Assembly: Hans Grohmann,Senior Protocol Officer
Behind the Scenes of the United Nations General Assembly: Hans Grohmann,Senior Protocol Officer