Amid growing calls for fostering peace and mutual respect in a conflict-ridden global scenario, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Miguel Angel Moratinos, a former foreign minister of Spain, as the world body’s Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia.
The seasoned diplomat will continue to assume his present role as the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), a prominent global platform for dialogue.
A statement said Moratinos’ dual role aims to optimize existing capacity and resources and integrate the functions arising from the new mandate into an existing position.
Several countries have been highlighting the need to combat Islamophobia in the face of growing tide of anti-Muslim hate in several parts of the world. Several Western critics have also pointed out prejudice against Muslims even in advanced democracies like United States and some European nations as Gaza and Ukraine wars and immigration across continents divide nations and peoples along different lines.
As part of these efforts, Pakistan recently submitted a resolution in the UN General Assembly, which was adopted by overwhelming majority.
The 193-member Assembly, the most broadly representative body of the nations, also designated 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
Moratinos brings years of experience to the new position. He has worked closely with the United Nations (UN) during his diplomatic career on the Middle East, Africa and Europe, notably as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain (2004-2010), during which his country held the presidency of the UN Security Council and chairmanships in office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Council of Europe and the Council of the European Union.
As Minister, Moratinos was a strong advocate of effective multilateralism, the Alliance of Civilizations, the Group of Friends for the Reform of the UN and contributed to the creation of innovative programmes for development, healthcare and women within the UN system, doubling his country’s Official Development Assistance.
After his ministerial assignment Moratinos later undertook parliamentary activity (2010-2011) focusing on international action towards the struggle against hunger and poverty, the promotion of food security and the right to food. As a member of the team of the Global Dry Land Alliance in Qatar, in 2012, he promoted the International Food Security Treaty and the International Treaty for a Global Dry Land Alliance.
His diplomatic profile includes several key roles. Moratinos served as Deputy Director General for Northern Africa (1987-1991), Director of the Institute of Cooperation with the Arab World (1991-1993) and General Director of Foreign Policy for Africa and the Middle East (1993-1996).
He served as Spain’s Ambassador in Israel (1996) and was appointed by the European Union as Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (1996-2003). In this role, Moratinos promoted peace agreements and carried out actions, on behalf of the European Union, to foster the Arab Israeli dialogue.
Moratinos graduated in Law and Political Sciences at the University Complutense in Madrid, Spain and then in Diplomatic Studies at the Spanish Diplomatic School. Moratinos is fluent in Spanish, English and French.
