Ban to receive award from Rotary International on visit to Birmingham

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is set to travel over the weekend to Birmingham, United Kingdom, at the invitation of Rotary International, to receive an award for his contribution and efforts on the eradication of polio, his spokesperson announced today.

The United Nations chief will deliver a keynote address at the annual Rotary International convention, to recognize the organization for its leadership role in polio eradication and for its work in support of the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals, as well as climate change and global health, Michele Montas told reporters in New York.

“His remarks will focus on the importance of partnership between the United Nations and civil society, in dealing with global challenges,” she stated.

The UN’s partnership with Rotary International – a public service organization with some 1.2 million members worldwide – goes back to the days of the world body’s founding in 1945.

Also during the visit, Mr. Ban will meet with the Global Compact Foundation network in the UK, as well as Chancellor Dominique Cadbury of Birmingham University, among other prominent figures.