The Homecoming Reception for the 8th United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was held on 23 January 2017 at ESCAP East and North-East Asia (ENEA) Office in Songdo, Incheon. More than 160 staff working in UN Offices and international organizations in the Republic of Korea attended the event to show appreciation for Mr. Ban’s dedication and service during his 10-year tenure as Secretary-General.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Director and Head of ESCAP ENEA Office, said Mr. Ban, through his “indefatigable energy,” served the UN and created lasting legacies such as advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, empowering more women and youth, as well as raising the profile of the UN in his home country.
Mr. Ban, in his remarks, talked about his commitment to promoting gender equality by hiring more women in senior management positions and reaffirmed his active support towards youth participation. Recalling his efforts to bring world leaders to the table to sign the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mr. Ban asked everyone to stand together in reducing the impacts of climate change and attaining the SDGs.
