Juan
Somavia was the first person from the southern hemisphere to be elected as the
Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) - a part of the
United Nations made up of representatives from governments, companies, and trade
unions that promotes labor standards all nations are supposed to obey. Juan Somavia
has a long career of advocating for a better world. Living under a dictatorship
in Chile, he helped restore democracy for his nation by serving as the president
of the International
Commission of the Democratic Coalition in Chile and founded and served as Secretary
General of the South American Peace Commission from 1986-1990. In 1990 he was
appointed as Chile's Ambassador to the United Nations and served twice as President
of the United Nations Security Council.
Juan Somavia has received many awards for his work for human rights, trade, labor,
peace and social development.
