Luis Alfonso de Alba
Encyclopedia
Luis Alfonso de Alba has been a Mexican
diplomat since 1983. He was appointed Ambassador on December 2001, and since 2004, he has been the Permanent Representative
of Mexico to the United Nations
and other International Organizations
in Geneva
.
Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous multilateral meetings, both at the global and regional levels, which has allowed him to gain substantive knowledge on the work and functioning of multilateral organizations, particularly those of the United Nations. In these fora, he has actively pursued the advancement of human rights
and humanitarian issues, including through the strengthening and improvement of the relevant international mechanisms.
(Contadora Group
), the situation in the Middle East
As Director for Social Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1991 to 1994), he participated in the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights
(Vienna), as well as in the 48th and 49th Sessions of the Commission on Human Rights, in which he worked mainly on the situation of Human Rights in El Salvador.
From 1994 to 1998, he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the Organization of American States (OAS), where he promoted important initiatives on human rights, the rule of law
and humanitarian issues. Among them, the negotiation of the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of Violence against Women. He also worked in the preparation of the Summits of the Americas (Miami, 1994 and Santiago
, 1998)
Ambassador De Alba was General Director for the United Nations System of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2001. Among other tasks, he coordinated the participation of the Mexican Delegations to different international meetings, in particular the Durban Conference against Racism
and the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children.
He also participated in the Mexican Delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001), where he promoted a multidimensional approach in order to include humanitarian and human rights concerns. Also, Mr. De Alba took part in the negotiations of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
and its Optional Protocols on trafficking in persons; smuggling of migrants; and the illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.
Since 2002 he promoted the yearly General Assembly resolution on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
, a first step that, combined with the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, led to the establishment of the Special Rapporteur of the Council on that matter. In his capacity as Deputy Permanent Representative to the Security Council
during that period, those efforts were accompanied by the promotion of human rights within the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the Security Council.
From February 2002 to March 2004 Ambassador De Alba was Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations in New York. In that context, he actively promoted the Mexican initiative to elaborate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including the establishment of the negotiating Committee. He also pursued and achieved several measures that granted full participation of civil society, and particularly of persons with disabilities, in the elaboration of the Treaty.
Ambassador De Alba was also Chairman of the Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee) of the General Assembly during its 59th Session (2004). Under his chairmanship, the Committee approved an initiative for the revitalization of its work, and in particular for the strengthening of dialogue and cooperation to advance the Committee’s agenda.
He was Chairman of the Council of the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) at its 88th and 89th Sessions (November 2004 to November 2005). During his tenure, he undertook broad consultations leading to a comprehensive proposal for a new strategy to further improve the work and functioning of IOM and to develop a new paradigm on migration placing the rights of migrants at its core.
On 19 May 2006, he was unanimously elected first President of the United Nations Human Rights Council
, a mandate he held from 19 June 2006 to 18 June 2007. During that period, the Council was entrusted by the General Assembly to design the new institutions of the international human rights system, while at the same time fulfilling its mandate to protect and promote human rights, in order avoid a protection vacuum. Under Ambassador De Alba’s Presidency, the Council was able to successfully achieve its task.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
diplomat since 1983. He was appointed Ambassador on December 2001, and since 2004, he has been the Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
of Mexico to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and other International Organizations
International organization
An intergovernmental organization, sometimes rendered as an international governmental organization and both abbreviated as IGO, is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states , or of other intergovernmental organizations...
in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
Throughout his career, he has participated in numerous multilateral meetings, both at the global and regional levels, which has allowed him to gain substantive knowledge on the work and functioning of multilateral organizations, particularly those of the United Nations. In these fora, he has actively pursued the advancement of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and humanitarian issues, including through the strengthening and improvement of the relevant international mechanisms.
Career
From 1983 to 1986, he was assigned to the Mexican Mission to the UN in New York, where he was responsible of the Decolonization Committee and member of the Council for Namibia. He also followed different political matters, including the peace process in Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
(Contadora Group
Contadora Group
The Contadora Group was an initiative launched in the early 1980s by the foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela to deal with the military conflicts in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, which were threatening to destabilize the entire Central American region.The original...
), the situation in the Middle East
As Director for Social Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1991 to 1994), he participated in the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights
World Conference on Human Rights
The World Conference on Human Rights was held by the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, on 14 to 25 June 1993. It was the first human rights conference held since the end of the Cold War...
(Vienna), as well as in the 48th and 49th Sessions of the Commission on Human Rights, in which he worked mainly on the situation of Human Rights in El Salvador.
From 1994 to 1998, he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the Organization of American States (OAS), where he promoted important initiatives on human rights, the rule of law
Rule of law
The rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
and humanitarian issues. Among them, the negotiation of the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of Violence against Women. He also worked in the preparation of the Summits of the Americas (Miami, 1994 and Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, 1998)
Ambassador De Alba was General Director for the United Nations System of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to 2001. Among other tasks, he coordinated the participation of the Mexican Delegations to different international meetings, in particular the Durban Conference against Racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and the Special Session of the General Assembly on Children.
He also participated in the Mexican Delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
The United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects was held in New York from 9 -20 July 2001 as decided in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 54/54 V...
and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects (2001), where he promoted a multidimensional approach in order to include humanitarian and human rights concerns. Also, Mr. De Alba took part in the negotiations of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
The Convention against Transnational Organized Crime is a United Nations-sponsored multilateral treaty against transnational organized crime, adopted in 2000...
and its Optional Protocols on trafficking in persons; smuggling of migrants; and the illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms.
Since 2002 he promoted the yearly General Assembly resolution on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, a first step that, combined with the resolutions of the Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council, led to the establishment of the Special Rapporteur of the Council on that matter. In his capacity as Deputy Permanent Representative to the Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
during that period, those efforts were accompanied by the promotion of human rights within the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) of the Security Council.
From February 2002 to March 2004 Ambassador De Alba was Deputy Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations in New York. In that context, he actively promoted the Mexican initiative to elaborate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including the establishment of the negotiating Committee. He also pursued and achieved several measures that granted full participation of civil society, and particularly of persons with disabilities, in the elaboration of the Treaty.
Ambassador De Alba was also Chairman of the Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee) of the General Assembly during its 59th Session (2004). Under his chairmanship, the Committee approved an initiative for the revitalization of its work, and in particular for the strengthening of dialogue and cooperation to advance the Committee’s agenda.
He was Chairman of the Council of the International Organization for Migrations (IOM) at its 88th and 89th Sessions (November 2004 to November 2005). During his tenure, he undertook broad consultations leading to a comprehensive proposal for a new strategy to further improve the work and functioning of IOM and to develop a new paradigm on migration placing the rights of migrants at its core.
On 19 May 2006, he was unanimously elected first President of the United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly...
, a mandate he held from 19 June 2006 to 18 June 2007. During that period, the Council was entrusted by the General Assembly to design the new institutions of the international human rights system, while at the same time fulfilling its mandate to protect and promote human rights, in order avoid a protection vacuum. Under Ambassador De Alba’s Presidency, the Council was able to successfully achieve its task.